LABOUR DAY POEM (circa 1979)

It was many moons ago I wrote the first poem below. It was published in 1979 in "Two Island Poets" by Caitlin Press in Vancouver, B.C. Since then, my fellow poet, Tim Merrill has passed on. He wrote beautiful and haunting poetry that put my pedantic scribbling to shame. Many years, tears, beers, jeers and fears have passed me by also. I still scribble, however.

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL19393487M/Two_island_poets

That, in itself, is a small blessing.

I wrote this poem in conjunction with "Up in Duck Ass Lake"..another poem addressing the plodding nature of the monotony of noble labour. Perhaps I'll post that poem also someday!

I am now back in the North country after a long sojourn. Truly..the grass is always greener! The second poem is one written today.

Leaving Houston, B.C. on Labour Day

Outside the dance last night
there was a free-for-all &
i watched one kid pommel another
kids face to pulp on wet pavement

And this sawmill town demands
pent energy's released because
of trailer homes with logging trucks
in every driveway &
workmen's apartments owned
by the sawmill & the one bar in town
& the one female for every
four males

....so the kid will lie on wet ground
waiting for the Mounties & will bleed
as much as he sweats each day
in the huge 9 acre mill....

To leave this town is a sexual act
and i sneak aboard that midnight train
as though the rails are silver spreading
legs

Desire draws us south

A dream winds blindly past
as puddle of light expose
the same sawmill dramas - other towns
swallowed & sleep it off
on sunday morning
(Houston, B.C. Sept 1978)

Smithers Station

The aspen quiver
with September's shiver
at the Smithers CN station
The "Cantina" cafe's tables
are empty
and wet with dew
The trainyards now an endless
wall of Hanjin & Cosco containers
A regimented flood pours outa Rupert
a cornucopia of shoes and laundry hampers
and electronics from China.
Our Walmarts & heartlands full.
Our factories lay fallow; mills idle;
insects eat
our forest

I rode these rails south in '78
bored with boomshacks & sucked
south with the anticipation of
pleasure & promise and bright
city lights

Now...North again in '09
seeking serenity and solace
satisfied now with September's
cool embrace.

(Smithers, B.C. Sept 2009)

ps..feel free to read the ironic news story with regards to the RCMP in Houston

pps..vid song soon to be attached to story this afternoon!