SEA TO SKY REVIEW : THE RIVER

VOLUME 2. ISSUE 1. APRIL 2019

We were considering salmon theme for this issue and wondering what time of year the smolt swim back to the sea. Of course, it is in the spring, and they travel down the river - the Squamish, the Cheakamus, the Mamquam. What a glorious thing that must be, after a life of flickering in streams and tiny ponds. To swim suddenly without effort in the fresh rushing waters of river. The fish will eventually swirl in the wide mix of fresh and salt on the estuaries and deltas then slip into the massive green world of ocean. But they’ll keep the memory of that river run. They’ll long for it. They’ll want it. THE RIVER is this month’s theme and we have some wonderful poetry for you. As well we’re pleased to share the lovely art of Janet Kvammen and photography from Christine Rice. And finally, for the young at heart, a dainty fable by new Squamish writer Christine Rice which explores a love affair between River and Sun.

POETRY

Featured

My Winter on Ewan Avenue

by Alan Hill, , Poet Laureate, City of New Westminster, BC

A wall of box stores wink
from beyond the open surgery of highway, the
wedged wide throat of traffic,

Earbuds

by Alan Hill, , Poet Laureate, City of New Westminster, BC

The soggy trackway, changeling, Lennon faced
a glittered brain of dying leaves
red, yellow, galaxy of rot,

Empty Nest by the River

by Kirsten Pendreigh

I wish I had a child here to show me
how to see this forest stream.
We could lift up rocks, search for bugs
and make leaf rafts to race.

The stream that brought me here

by Isabella Mori

the stream that brought me here,
strong,
gushed me out at the mouth of your river,

Numb

by Kirsten Pendreigh

we pick up slugs
roll slimy fingers round fiddleheads

buckets clank as we poach berries
from unseen bony bears

Understanding Seagulls

by Franci Louann

here by the Fraser
from the sixteenth floor
we watch seagulls
and I think: storm

Quayside Migration

by Janet Kvammen

We watch how the purple sky
encompasses the black bird
how it fades into itself—
an echo of more to come

SO-SO

by Isabella Mori

so along the river flowing;
was so-so,
waters humming along the shore;
so-so-so-so.

PROSE

April 2019: The River

The River

by Christine Rice

Everyone is happier. The children of the River play. The seal plays with the sea gulls and the otters hold hands and drift through the day. The salmon find their long travel a little easier. We are all happier when the lovers get together. Their happiness radiates and makes us happy too.