Uncontrolled Crossings, written on-board the Rocket and performed at the Canadian writers festival.
Dead wood
-live wood
The coming and the going
That's the forest
Life -seen
-unseen
The birthing and the dying
That's the forest
And the trains, day by day
In the wind and the rain
Travels by-with a hoot and shuffle
witnessing the changes
In the forest
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First day of Summer
sadly the A/C won't work
Next time I think- Drive
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The Rupert Rocket it takes you far-From Prince Rupert to lovely Jasper,
The scenery is varied and hard to beat especially where the Fraser and Nechako meet
You'll see the mountains and snow-capped peaks,all from the comfort of a window seat
Watch for the wildlife throughout the day. I saw a Black Bear and a Cub at play.
The Bald Eagle soars in the Pines so green, Trees galore more than I've ever seen.
I love the Train whistle singing it's song, letting folks know we're coming along.
We have the Rocketman on board with his friendly smiles keeping us fed along the miles.
We'll be sad when this train journey ends but memories We'll share with our friends.
We'll Aye come back an' see Ye, Lang may your Lum Reek. Mary R 6-2012
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I Want To See A Bear
I want to see a bear!
A cuddly wuddly bear.
I’m looking high, I’m looking low
Where he’s hiding I do not know
I want to see a bear!
About nothing else I care
Don’t care for eagle
Don’t care for moose
Forget the vista and caboose
All I’ll ever want, I swear is
To see that wild native bear
Now 6 hours gone on the Skeena train
Has to be someone to blame
Show me the bear!
Wait. Look. Look there!
Shining nose, fuzzy brown hair
Just a flash. Gone in a dash
It’s a bear, It’s a bear, It’s a bear!
From Terrace to Jasper we travelled by train
Why would we do that?
Of course we were going to see mountains and moose
But the main reason was the staff- John & Bruce
Expert commentary on tunnels and bridges,
Wildlife and mountains with spectacular ridges
And if you are someone who likes to take part
They'll give you a chance to create some fine art
A brown paper bag, some crayons , a pen
If you think that sounds bad
You should look again
Some of these pictures, you really should see 'em
They'd look right at home at a show or museum
The train with no name is your home for the day
A diesel electric guiding the way
The dome car down back lets you look at the sky
Through an awesome glass roof, designed by some guy
Back in the 50's, a decade long past
A design for all time that's certain to last
So if by chance you are touring B.C.
Then listen up now and take it from me
When making the trip from west to the east
The dome cars the place for a visual feast
Ancient peaks soaked in mist
Twisted waterfalls plummet deep
Totem poles Hallowed earth
Dead man’s Island Spirits weep
Sparkling rivers Salmon’s pleasure
Fishermen knee deep take their measure
Carpet pastures Plump hay bails
Quaint villages beside the rails
Soaring eagles Hidden antlers
Padded paws seldom seen
Old tribe’s wisdom Prevailing legends
Crumbling ports Enterprise demeaned
Privileged tourists ride the Skeena
Skims along the iron path
Soaking in the past and present
Hoping... it will always last
Such is B.C. Canada
Marlene Pearce
Sept 19 2011
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Wildlife in Canada
Whale oh whale where art thou,
We seek them here and seek
them now,
A water spout off the bow,
We nearly did see them
and ask how.
A moose, a moose is on the loose,
followed by a Canada goose,
From this what can we dedoose,
Vamoose, vamoose, they have
found their Loose.
Cougar, Bear can't find their lair,
Into the wilderness shall we dare,
how much time can we spare
Can we find this ellusive pair.
Oh eagle, oh eagle up in the sky,
Show us the way to find
our prey.
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I once took a trip
on a train.
Through weather
both sunshine and
rain
the via rail guys-
both brainy and wise
inspired this loquacious
refrain.
Swaying back and forth
Being rocked to sleep
Endless miles of green tunnel
yet to go
Chattering of travelers meeting
pausing for such a breif
moment in time
Deer startling to the delight of eyes so eager
to see
Natures wonder on their
trip
Gentle chugging of the
engine pulling it's cargo
to journey's end
Spine of granite
backbone to
ancient ways of knowing,
stone pushed from
the centre of the Earth,
crowns of snow capped regalia
and garments of greenery
stone hands cup flowing waters
in bowls and troughs
for all creatures
to feast upon.
Spine of steel
backbone for
a century of transport
for commerce and trade
in the manner of
European ancestors
miles of testament to
human braun and brain,
wonder of engineering
carving straight lines
and level ground
through the wilderness.
And it is as a passenger
on one spine
that I observe the others ;
it is a meeting
of two worlds ,
the modern and the ancient
sometimes in conflict
sometimes in harmony
this Grand Trunk
Pacific Railway
as he cuts through
these majestic lands
where the bald eagle
carries the ocean mists
to the black bear
of the mountain ,
connecting geography
in other forms
as we grind along ,
steel on steel ,
diesel and a
conductor's whistle
announcing our arrival
as passengers and spectators
to these parallel spines.
April on the Skeena
Day 1 : Through the Rockies Skiff of snow
thrown against the dome.
Old winter!
yet to go, yet to go
Tattered worn cover
torn by sun warmed stones,
Cold snowbanks
yet to go , yet to go
Tree grizzled ridges,
folds drizzled with ice,
Thick snow-pack
yet to go , yet to go
Cerulean washes on
serpentine ribbons
rounding rocks.
River ice
yet to flow, yet to flow
Airy firs
spines of spruce, brown cones
-spring's promise
Break bud scales
yet to grow , yet to grow
Day 2 Highlands to Coastal Range
Far flat pans of lake ice
Clear waters-swan sprinkled
Landscape relaxes , highland
Vistas unfold.
Time goes slow
Sloped shoulders on mountains
High spruce mark dark cut lines
Patches of poplar and
Beetle-killed pine
Time goes slow
Deep gorges , old tunnels
Silver rivers flow free
Grey beaches , small cobble
Riffles with rolls
Wheels go slow
Green flash of cottonwoods,
fresh catkins on alders
Moss fuzz climbing old trunks
Bright cedar fringes
Time to grow!
The art show/contest was started with no company support, to entertain passengers. Still no support but they do let me use their garbage bags for canvas. I started with three coloured crayons but have since invested in more varied tools including pencils, felt pens, water colour and acrylic paints out of my own pocket.
Passengers and crew alike have fun with the diversion. Some people said they couldn't draw so poetry was suggested and that has taken off as well.
Here is some original music by Sam Sheppard rewritten on the Rocket and performed live.
This work, from the Dunster ladies came with a promise of prizes for the show, and unlike the corporation they came through with a bag of significant locally produced items, thanks girls. I will provide updates as they are distributed.