A poem, A Day on the Shore

A Day On The Shore

Sun's first light glistens

On silken Otter coat

As silently

It slip’s beneath the water

With barely a ripple

To disturb the smooth as glass

Calm of the Sea

Valdez Island

Mist shrouded Mystery

A background for

Chickadees cheerful piping

Oyster Catchers squeaky toy voices

As high above

Eagle's cry

Rings through

The morning stillness

Cedar, the beauty of your beaches

Sandstone carved by wind and wave

A place of Peace

Renew me

How I long to dwell upon

Your nurturing shore

Here in this place that my ancestors

Called Home

Who began their journey

On Canada's farthest shore

Far From the hills and dales of Scotland

I sit,

Their granddaughter

100 years after their feet

Walked upon this land

Sea Lion's curious eye

Peers above the surface

And they seem to wonder

What kind of curious creature

Am I?

Did their ancestors

Come as they do

To watch mine?

Cassie Hepburn August 2010

Summer Dreams Literary Festival

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the literary festival at Lumberman's Arch in Stanley Park. Here in this place that I came to so often as a child with my mother, here where as a teenager I came with my highschool best friend Suzie Cackette to our first Easter Be-in or later in my 20's sitting up on the back of a convertable soaking up the first Spring rays of the sun, feeling the wind in my hair, listening to Reggae music blasting through the speakers.

Here in this place that holds so many precious memories, I meet some friends to attend the Summer Dreams Literary festival. I arrive 2 hours late after a 2.5 hour hellish commute from Langley, but soon the magic of this place works it's wonder as I take in not only the talented poets and writers readings but the beauty of the day, the scent of the sea laden air and being amongst a company of those who love writing in all it's different facets as I do.

I play a word game, taking letter tiles to create words, and win a book of choice. The drive slips away as I settle in to enjoy a children's author, wizard's hat perched upon his head as he reads from one of his books. After his tales are told, I make my way to a different stage and hear a variety of spoken words artists practicing their craft, each with such a different style and each a master in their own right, one in particular stands out, the cadence of his voice, as it rises and falls with the rythym of his words, the way his words draw a myriad of visual images that dance through my vision keeping time with his voice.

Then after listening to a panel on the correlation that some poets feel ( myself included) between healing and writing, and one who feels opposed to that view, I am filled and off I go to find my own voice once more.

Inspired by those fellow writers and poets who weave their craft so beautifully, I am so grateful
to have a voice and the freedom to use it.

I am so grateful to the organizers for creating such a wonderful gathering of wordsmiths in one location to connect and inspire each other. And to my writer's group who keep me inspired to do what I love to do, write.

Waterfront Adventure in Cedar, B.C.

Mark and I went to visit my brother this past weekend. He lives in Cedar, B.C. on Vancouver Island. Down the road from where my brother lives, some 80 years before my father's parents had built a home which still stands, it is also where while digging a well my grandfather and uncle found an ancient carved rock with a furocious face on it, it is over 15,000 years old and as yet it is a mystery as far as who made it as none of the local indigenous people used that style of artwork.
The trip was breathtaking on the ferry. We took our chihuahua Jada with us so we needed to stay on the car deck but rather than stay in the stuffy pet area we found a great spot by one of the outside windows, so wind blowing in our hair, with the best seat and view of all we settled in to share our picnic dinner in style.
The two hour trip flew by, my brother Bruce, a marine biologist, picked us up and it was only a short drive from the ferry terminal to his place on the waterfront at Cedar. He has retired from his position taking care of Sable fish at a local hatchery. He has stayed on there to be someone on site in case of an emergency.
After a mouth watering gourmet dinner of Indian food made by his lovely girlfriend Zen shared with their friends from Wildwood Echo Forest, we gathered by the beach, guitar in hand to play some music under the vivid tapestry of the Persieds meteor showers. And rather than sleep in the guest room, chose to sleep under the stars on the beach. Mark drifted off to the sounds of Oyster Catchers, Sea Lions, and the lapping of the waves on shore. I lay awake enjoying the peace of the night and the shooting stars as I gave myself a reiki treatment. There is something so incredibly magical about meteor showers. To see that flash cross the sky and stay lit even it has tranversed the whole sky is so Divine in nature.

The following day we spent exploring the sandstone sculptures formed by wind and tide, taking dips to stay cool after picking pathways through the barnacle ladden rocks, exploring tide pools, napping in the shade of the Arbutus trees.
We watched the sea lions dive off their perch just off shore to frolic around some kayaks who stopped to enjoy their interaction before continuing on with their journey.
I took some time to meditate in the coolness of the nature park adjacent and to send a healing to a friend who has been having some digestive issues. I love distance healing for that, you don't even have to be with someone to send the healing energies to them.
After a blissful day of spending the entire day playing in mother nature we regretfully headed back home. Back to work, the lower mainland and the hustle and bustle of the city all 3 of us comfortably tired from our miles of walking on the beach and breathing in clean fresh air for a welcome change.
My dream is to someday soon be able to live near the sea on Vancouver Island or one of the Gulf Island. I so look forward to manifesting that from dream into reality.