ELLEN S. JAFFE

Groundhog Day Limerick

The groundhog wakes up from his sleep –

He has a big promise to keep.

        Will he witness his shadow?

        Retreat in fear to his burrow?

Will Winter melt, or remain cold and deep?

Ellen S. Jaffe, Feb. 2, 2014

ED WOODS

My fathers haiku

spirits climbed away

beside the Great Speckled Bird

carrying a soul

a father passed on

native spirits slowly rise

with a legacy

the Great Speckled Bird

graced my father with a ride

up to the heavens

holding hands so calm

a father’s journey will end

beside three children

my stomach is tight

longing for one more phone call

my father passed on

tonight I miss you

for this would have been our talk

sorely missed parents

although you have passed

your loving spirit remains

my heart proudly beats

one life has ended

a new life in Baptism

life events in change

I grow weak at times

when my heart is in longing

your smile remembered

you left in person

you left behind a spirit

you left me faithful

we try to tribute

your long life and legacy

an image of joy

my day was in joy

success in every way

I know you looked down

you threw a baseball

awkwardly I threw it back

my dad taught me well

ED WOODS

Young and Brave

I feel so small

our Medicine Man called me brave

and gave me a leather band

with a special feather to wear

except when sleeping

he said I must follow his words

respect birds who fly over us

see what they see

floating through the sky

feel their freedom to move
take only what your heart

tells you to need

let others know pleasure

share when there is not enough

feast when all can feast

our ways and spirits

know the earth's soul

I am a brave so be brave

look to warriors for strength

look to your chief for respect

when you feel lost or hurt

seek knowledge and guidance

from a Medicine Man

ELLEN JAFFE

THE SUMMER THE CAT

The summer before the cat died,

she clumped up and down the stairs,

an old woman with arthritis,

and gave long, longing looks

into the garden.  We took her outside,

let her brush against iris and daffodil,

snooze on the unmowed grass, let her dream

of chasing birds again, and climbing trees.

Then she woke up startled, needing to be loved.

We gave her cheesecake for her birthday,

chicken hearts, and vitamins.

All that summer, we remembered her as a kitten,

the colour of freestone peaches.

We didn’t know she’d live with us for years,

familiar and strange.

Next summer Peaches was dying,

though for months she ate sunshine and rain.

Ellen S. Jaffe

MARTY MESHBERG

Wolves Fishing

My red cheeks tingling on this

brilliant and vibrant Fall day, 

I Kneel by the waterside, 

inhaling the crisp, nipping 

and fragrant currents of air. 

I am captivated by 

the pink backdrop of the golden 

setting sun, as the musical stream  

recounts its never ending lyric:

rushing, running, rippling,

hypnotic, gurgling water. 

Yes...closing my eyes

I hear and see 

the most perfect unity

in my solitude and stillness.

An instantaneous flash!

Loud cackles and laughs...

my gaze turns skyward as

Raven alights on 

the naked branch.

I am spellbound by the

dancing, playful, and shadowed 

ever changing Wolves 

fishing for Salmon

in the cold, rocky shallows.

MCM©06/09/13

ELLEN JAFFE

MOON OF THE LONG NIGHT

December

In these nights of Orion

hunting the Great Bear,

glimmering in obsidian sky,

we tell stories of the old days.

Sleepless, we stir the fire,

re-tell our mothers’ stories,

our grandmothers’ legends

tales of earth, first mother,

made new in our own words.

Nameless longing prowls

Long wind howls

we warm ourselves with stories

fill our bellies, lighten the darkness. 

By Ellen S. Jaffe, from the chapbook Twelve Moons and Six More Poems, inspired by 12 deerskin paintings by Annie Mandlsohn which represent the months of the year.

The art and writing were influenced by shamanic teaching and practice.

Annie and Ellen would like to dedicate this poem to Volkmar (Peter) Hindrichs, who died December 17, 2013, in his 83^rd year.

He loved music and the life of the spirit, and played the organ for many years at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hamilton.

Annie and her family are old friends of Volkmar and his family, and Ellen met him through Annie shortly before his death.

He liked this poem, which will be read at his memorial service and which fits this season of the darkest night and the return of the light..

Editor's note:  I knew Volkmar through the Lutheran Church where he played the organ and directed the choir for so many years.  Music was a great love of his as well as poetry and he often times asked me to send him some of my poetry which I was only too happy to do.

He will be sorely missed by his many friends at the church.  Tomorrow is his funeral service which which be at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church  at Wilson and Hughson Streets in Hamilton, Ontario.

ELLEN S. JAFFE

Seasonal Haiku

Morning light. Breathe in,

breathe out, a  new day opens.

Snow falls – one bird calls.

Ellen S. Jaffe