After the World War Two Madness,

I was born in a gold-mining town

set in Canadian wilderness

with many lakes and rivers around.

I played in a garden of flowers

early mornings of light like gold,

sapphire skies and a brilliant blue

still rich in Memories I clearly hold.

In short Summers, I played in the heat.

In long Winters, I played in the cold,

a wealth of snow beneath my feet-

a wealth of diamond snowflakes unsold.

Autumns gave me treasures of leaves

that lay like coloured gems on the ground.

Springs brought me abundant pleasures-

birthdays, Earth’s rebirths, baby bird sounds…

Years passed fast and I’ve grown old

watching the Sunlight I’ve known

slowly become ‘harsh’ and strangely ‘cold’.

Mad men began War with Life and Nature,

using Nature to destroy Life here,

now falling into World War Three Madness

for greed, for glory, arrogance, fear,

profiting nothing- No Love in That End.

I watch the Great War of Storms unfold,

still holding tight to my Memory Gold.

April 4, 2023

Shelley Audrey Wilson

Victoria, BC