Harvest Full Moon - Haiga

X marks the spot

A wonderful day was spent at the Lanark Archives researching the family forest. I've decided to focus on the mossie branch for now. The ladies couldn't have been more helpful. One in particular spent hours loading my table without me asking. I felt she was a mini me, give a hint and away she went searching for information.

I finally resolved the original family settlement in 1845. That probably means they arrived in 1844 and spent the winter at Brockville. That will remain to be researched. However! And I'm tickled to discover the reason for the Moss School. It was built on the original settlement

of Thomas Moss which to me means that man believed in edumakation! Yes! I couldn't be happier.

Dear Eliza's last will was found and though it's thorough it's also poignant. She couldn't write so her X marks the spot of her signature. Sad that but in those days it was the norm. Along with the note of anyone having a double S in their name meant it was spelt with FS instead of SS. My head nods too.

Frog Flower - Haiku

adrift on water

floating leaves become petals

and I its centre

green on green

sails incognito

legs are oars

sun beams warm the skin

of waning summer colours

frogs fade as flowers  

Searching for beacons

I settle onto the whicker chaise

as sun bids adieu to the day

and the moon whispers bonjour

from its celestial home.

Waiting for beacons

of the night to emerge

I become anxious as night darkens

and only the streetlamp sheds light.

Three nights I have seached,

yet there are no fireflies this year

as the earth and gardens have dried

becoming deserts of skeleton sticks.

I have lived for decades and this year

is the first without summer beacons,

where we curse the endless fall of snow,

but now it is barren and wanting of moisture

If this is the way of climate change

I feel for the children, and their children

when a simple joy of chasing fireflies

becomes a memory of their ancestors.

Full Buck Moon - Haiku

drought baren branches

viewed through the full buck moon,

antlers reflected