Curb Work

They seem to do a lot of standing around and then – zoom, boom -- there’s a new curb for the street. It took fourteen of them, and they seem to know what they’re doing. Descending upon the neighbourhood like a flock of crows with safety vests they are a phenomenon with kids, moms, and walkers-by stopping to view the activity. To the workers we are just so much street furniture to be navigated around.

Sudden Downpour

With an enormous shift and a sudden rush, a mountainous downpour smothers the city. Inside, under cover, it feels safe and dry, but artificially so. Outside, the rain pounds down without mercy, preternaturally dark and heavy. People caught out in it crouch and run, instantly soaked to the skin, seeking shelter.

Stay Come

Barely on her feet learning to put thing into context. Already it’s do this, do that. Stop. Go. Stay. Come. The world is confusing enough and, for this tyke, her parents aren’t being very helpful right now. Like the little voice inside our heads, sometimes right, sometimes wrong. Yes. No. Do it. Don’t! Many years ago I was making kindling and the little voice said, keep doing it that way and you’ll chop you’re finger. Sure enough, a bad cut followed. I learned then to listen to myself, to trust myself, to know way down deep inside the difference between right and wrong. It’s the wisdom that sometimes comes from painful experience.

Wood Nymph

From the depths of the forest the woodland stream churns and bubbles down to the lake below. Little waterfalls punctuate its flow. Fresh green ferns gather along the edges. Around an outcropping of moss covered rock the stream picks up speed and tumbles, rushing past on either side. Upon the rock, dignified and graceful, a young woman perches, accompanied by a small dog. Botticelli would have been very pleased.

Contemplation

Standing by a rushing stream is so refreshing. It cleanses the body and mind, the heart and soul. It cleanses connectivity to nature, the world, the universe. It’s a good feeling. Deep in thought about such things I am interrupted by one of the first tourism outfits of the season, a tall ship motoring up the Arm with fiddle music blaring, laughing, talking people on deck, and tinkling glasses.

Walking on the Sky

“I am walking on the sky!” From his point of view the boy is right side up and striding with giant steps over the cosmos. Everything else -- earth, people, buildings -- is all strange and upside down. He pedals the upper atmosphere puffing up clouds, and his head swings low through thin air. Sky walker looks up at his feet and lets out a yell, while his buddy stands and stares.

Two Men

I am struck by the juxtaposition of the two men. One is a down-to-earth-looking kind of guy, and the other is the painted portrait of an early colonial governor. The live man is sitting with his arms crossed. His hat is pulled low. He looks a little lost. The governor, for his part, was utterly ruthless in forming Nova Scotia 250 years ago. He looks like he was used to getting his way. There is irony here.