elias
i have adopted the name "elias" as a special way to share my poetry. it is a way to honour my grandparents john and sophie elias. elias is greek for elijah with qualities of being observant, critical, innovative and positive. john saw the sunshine in people. sophia means wisdom: the wind, the breath, the spirit of god. I learned to see that sunshine and listen to that wind. / / my style is informal, irregular and free form. i favour the 14 lines of the sonnet, and the 5-7-5 syllable rhythms of the haiku. the words seem to find their own relationships. hope some of this speaks to you. / / jock franz mctavish of calgary, canada
tradition is more than yesterday’s stories
old photographs and dusty keepsakes
it is the remembering of tomorrow
it is the nervous acting out
of ceremony with candles and words
of an ancient story of wonder and light
it is the gladsome preparation
of the festive foods for the jolbord
and the pride of happy hosts
it is the gentle noise of children playing
the rumbling conversation of friends remembering
the tear in a grandparent’s eye
it is the leap in our hearts at midwinter’s turn
it is the song that ever celebrates life’s wonder
Dec 14, 2014
Dec 14, 2014 at 10:06 PM UTC
in another time and place - another then
you planned a dreaming, a pleasing
that destiny might weave your lives together
for much is required of hope, of intention
in another time and place - another now
you planned this joy, this sharing
that circumstance might weave your living
for much is required of love, of commitment
in another time and place - another tomorrow
you planned your future, your happy story
that you might weave your happiness
for much is required of respect, of compassion
now in this present time and place
all is yours to promise and to celebrate
May 25, 2014
May 25, 2014 at 5:06 PM UTC
love is still
lost in tranquility
love is patient
awakening to complexity
love is busy
with synchronicity
love is a candle’s
light and darkness
love is sending an arrow
to vanquish the heart
love is the sweet music
found in growing old
love is forlorn
and also hope
Feb 15, 2014
Feb 15, 2014 at 8:58 PM UTC
i am (was) a *** ****** and it was rather funny - what happened. you see, i’ve got ms and my feet always hurt. get’s annoying. limits things. sometimes stops things.
and from time to time I heard about how *** got rid of pain for folks with ms. but i’ve no idea how to get some. so naturally i ask my kid to get me some. he does. brings me 3 wilted looking cigarettes in a plastic container. i stick ‘em in the freezer.
then one saturday afternoon, i’m alone and all caught up and i think - ok, let’s give that **** a try. so i take one and light it up. a bit tricky in itself. keeps going out. well i just keep re-lighting it and ******* hard on it.
for i knew what to do. i’d seen how in movies. just **** in the smoke and pretend you’re under water as long as you can. so that’s what i did. over and over. lighting it up again and again. 20 minutes goes by. by now i thought i’d be feeling “high”. nope. just dizzy and getting a sore throat. and then the little cigarette was gone.
so i walked into the kitchen for something to drink. rather annoyed. my feet still hurt ****** then the world spun around 20 or so times and i couldn’t move my head a millimeter in any direction or it would spin again.
oops. this is awkward. so i take half an hour to get to the phone. phone my other kid and explain how i’m stuck in this one little spot in space-time and can’t move. and i don’t know what to do - does she have any advice?
she laughs and comes over and laughs some more. what did you do? well i smoked one of those marijuana cigarettes your brother gave me. and it didn’t help - my feet still hurt! and i can’t move my head! just my eyeballs!
a whole one yourself? all at once? well, yeah. and she gives me the orientation training i’d neglected earlier. so i crawled into bed and slept it off like any good drunk.
the other 2 are still in their plastic container in the freezer. the container without any instructions. and without warnings. been there a few years now. not too sure i want to try again. kind of reminds me how silly life is sometimes.
Feb 1, 2013
Feb 1, 2013 at 10:44 PM UTC
i miss you
and find myself wondering
where and how and if you are
you are because we are
and you are part of we
but are you free?
i remember how you just hate anything
the least bit tainted by the supernatural
yet you believe in the good
and work for the peace
you are relentless
about the consequence of a thought.
perhaps that's why peaceful buddhists
beckoned you across the sea
and why you were happy in their place
i see you now again in their midst
in their bardo - awakening
where the sun is always setting
and souls are recycled
these folk gave you a great gift
for bardo is the proper in-between
to finally unwrap your sadness
and be pleased with all you are
but you were christian first and still
and have chased jesus all your life
you've met him often in his varying disguise
and so encouraged, uplifted us
i remember your lessons
your direct manner
the joy above your sorrow
the hope above your hurt
you always left a warm space after
you have left it again with us.
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:51 PM UTC
we were:
managing chaos
working well
seeking excellence
we are:
managing opportunities
working wisely
developing excellence
we will:
be managing programs
be working wonders
be excellent
our new consensus confidently directed
our new perspective discovering excellence
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:49 PM UTC
i came to you and you welcomed me.
i was with you only for a while and you understood.
i gave you all i had and you loved me more.
when i was happy you laughed with me.
when i was sad you encouraged me.
when i was curious you delighted me.
then came cancer and you were astounded.
then came doctors and you interceded for me.
then came knives and needles and you stayed with me.
i loved the water and you brought me dolphins.
i loved the blue sky and you coloured it with butterflies.
i loved you and you filled my final days with joy.
always remember our days together.
and, i really liked the balloons and bagpipes.
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:47 PM UTC
you wonder if your days were well spent
you now challenge your own decisions
you regret what seems in retrospect, too little
you have helped make the world grow kinder
you have taught tolerance, compassion and duty
you have shown that faith requires integrity
i learned from your teaching, and your example
i see your attentions in each of my intentions
i am steady because of your ever present love
ever we live between yesterday and tomorrow
ever do the generations send forth their dreams
ever will kith and kin, extend those gifts in turn
may your many past days bring you satisfaction
may your many future days bring you challenge
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:44 PM UTC
celtic mystics found "thin places"
between the worlds
where insight and rescue live
each of us pass near such places
when hearts hurt, when needs are great
when that thin place opens a wee while
then we remember we are not alone
are given life again, are healed
are overflowingly filled with light
sometimes it is the air that is thin
in such thin air others reach to touch us
again with love
so promises are kept
so hope is shared
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:42 PM UTC
the clamouring noise of our times
hides the holy - disables our noticing
yet there are off-beats of time we can attend
the clamouring noise of our minds
consumes our attention - distracts our soul
yet systolic beats of thought name our noticings
between the memes of our times
are counter balancing sensibilities
to pause our conviction - to open our hearts
between the memes of our minds
are roots of tradition and wisdom
to complete and challenge our understanding
so to extend our fervent hopes to good purpose
so to embrace the silence - and find blessing
Jul 21, 2012
Jul 21, 2012 at 11:36 PM UTC