Rain or Shine

Neighbour Harry taught

me much about the

woods-

called me “Tadpole”

at the time and

I learned the

value of a mosquito net.

Put worm on my hook

hard at first from

finger punctures and

fallen bait – saw

how leaves hung on

from the wind

and directions deer

took as they trotted by.

an hour before.

Harry’s gone now

and I celebrated his

passing when I

took my own sons where

we met the sky

wind and rain

and I showed them

what skills I learned

in early days

then we sat back from

our campfire

with beans and wieners

an outdoor menu

with thoughts about Harry.

Note:

This poem honours Harry Conrad Sr. a surrogate father due to my dad working in the gold and copper mines of northern Quebec and Ontario and being away from our home in Rouyn, Quebec for months at a time.