The Envoy 129 - Special Kim issue

Page 1


ForKim

Theuninvitedseasonarrived, unwritten,blankpagesinawell-read, dog-earedpoetrybook,anewchapterslipped betweenspring’sgreenbreathoffreshness andwinter’stranquilrepose.Iamlearning thisuninvitedseasonneednotbecold orfilledwithstormsofthrashingwavesandfog. Itisuptoyou.Itcanarriveas asoftwhisperofflutteringbutterflywings, remindingusallabouteternity, astatementthatoneislovedbyLoveitself. Themistliftstorevealthetimelessnessofnow thatbringspeaceandassurancethatalliswell inthesilentuninvitedseasonofinfinity.

Inthisseason,thespacethatonceseemed toowidetocross,liketheshadowsstretching atdusk,beginstoshrinkandfade theunfulfilledexpectationsofgrief. Thehand-holdingdistanceonthesofa, becameachasmwithyourpassing, seemingtoowidetocross,willnowshrink andvanish.Theinvisiblespacebetweenus isnotemptinessbutfinallyaconnection beyondform,whereheartbeatsareneverlost insilence,andloveisunbroken.

ItisnotjustthewarmthofyourhandthatImiss, butthesimpleweightofseemingreality pressedinmine.Ireachforyou throughtheuninvitedseason,reaching, andfindingyouarestillandalwayswillbe theperfectreflectionandexpression ofdivineLife’slivingdespitetheunrequitedtouch.

Myunderstandingisnowfilled withthepresenceofallthatyouare, aspiritualbeing, thenever-endingvibrancyoftherealyou. Thisuninvitedseasonisnotaseasonofendings, butaseasonofmovingforward,abridgetoeternity.

Thoughasilentwhisper,thisuninvitedseason willfilltheblankpagesoftheuntitledchapters yettocomeandfilltomorrow'sexpectations withthejoyoflightfillingtheether withtheperfumeofbeginnings. Thisisnotanend,butabeginningwhereweboth willenjoythesilentjoy-filledjourney fromharmony,throughharmony,toharmony asIfreemyselffromtheearthboundillusion ofmyunfulfilledexpectations.

ForKim

Itisastillgreyday atScarboroughBluffs watchingthevulturesglide.

IwishIcouldsoarlikeavulture silentlystandontheairandgaze beyondthegreyhorizon lookingforyouonmy effortless,timelessslide onthebreezeofinfinity.

AslongasIkeep myheadburied inmycomputer, inmywriting, inmyphotography, indoingdishes Iamfine. Itisinthelingering leadenlightofadawn thatnever seemstoarrive, whenIcomeupforair, thattheKimlessminutes washoverme likeadampfog thatIcan’t seethrough whenImourn thatIhavelost someonetodo everythingandnothingwith.

AWORDOFTRIBUTETOAWOMANOFHIGHWORTH

Wehavelostsomeonedeartousall.Thesocalledmateriallawoflifedictatedso. WiththelossofCanadianwriter,belovedwifeandfriendKimberleyElizabeth Grove,lifedarkensformanyfriends,family,colleagues.Yetamidstthesorrow westandtohonourherlifeandherachievements.Kimenjoyedwritingsinceshe firstpickedupapencil.HerenchantmentwithCubawasprofoundlylinkedto herloveofpoetry.KimvisitedCubaeveryyearforovertwenty-fiveyears.She publishedinTheGlobeandMail,ChristianScienceMonitor,TorontoStarand variousotherpublications.ShetaughtwritingatLoyalistCollege,theTrenton AirForceBase,theColborneCommunityCareCentreandCiegodeAvila UniversityinCuba.Herteachingcamefromaloveofreadingwhatothershave toshare.ShewasalsoincludedinmanyanthologiespublishedbyHiddenBrook PressandSandCrabBooks.Maymyheartfeltwordspayhomagetoagenerous, patient,smilingwomanwholitupanyone´slifesimplywithherpresence.

Howpainfullyislifewhensomeoneclosesadlypasseson?Howmuchdoestheir physicalabsenceaffectus?Forus,KimberleyElizabeth(Sherman)Groveisnot gone.Thatisanimpossibilityfordeathcrumblesinthefaceoftribute,love, admirationandremembranceofher.Noonereallyleavesusiftheiractsinthis lifereachedandtouchedourlivesinwayswordscannotexpress.Inthe necessarymomentofcelebratingalifeofjoyandcaring,weareblessedbyand rejoiceintheuniqueblendofsimplicity–becauseKimwasahumblewoman–andofgreatness–becauseshewastheepitomeofgreatenvelopedinher discreetyettranscendentbehavior.Physicalityfillsus,yes,andwhenitends,it hurtsdeeply.ButKim'sabsencefindssomesortofpeacewithinusthankstothe spiritualitythatalwayssurroundedherandtheDivinethatdweltinsideher. KimberleyGrovelingersonintheever-etheroftheEternal.Thatishowwemust rememberherandvisualizeherbrightpresence:fromahigher,grateful perspectivethatsomehowlightenstheanguishofherparting.Kimwonderedat theideaofinfinity.Oneofherpoemsrevealsit:

Whatisitabouttheocean?

Thatdrawsmetoitsshore?

Isitthelullingofthewaves?

Swayingtheshiftingsand?

Orthedramaticslapping, Clappingsoundofwatermakingwar?

No,Ithinkitisthe

Opennessoftheocean’swideembrace

Thatdrawsmetostandonthecliffs’shoulders

ToseeInfinity’sface.

Hereyesandsoulabsorbingthemagicoftheoceanandthemysteryofinfinity, Kimleavesforusapoemofadmirationandawe,ofhumilityandveneration. ThatisourKim,thepoet,thesentienthumanbeing.Shewondrouslyholdsnow inhertheanswerstoherquestions.

Theblackjewelofthisnightis shatteredbyfullmoon. Longcrispshadows guideoursearching tentative, wellplacedsteps intothedarkdepths offorestcover.

Oursilentbreathsings theblithefullsongofcalm backtothewhisperingmist thatbeckonsusintothe cloisteredsilence ofourforesthome. Thisiswhereour weekendheartslie soontowelcomein thewhitecloverofmorning.

ByCCLA'slateKimberleyElizabeth(Sherman)Grove

ThismorningIwroteapoemforKimbaseduponthesevenbloomsontheorchid inthekitchen.ShegaveitasagifttoCathyseveralyearsago,anditlostits bloomovertime.Wepampereditwithicecubes.Yes,icecubes,forthe botanicaladvicewastoputanicecubeontheeartharoundtherootseveryso often,therebynotoverwateringit.Theicemelted,andtheorchiddrank,andit fortifieditselfovertime,onlyrecentlybreakingintofloweragainwithseven stemsandsevenorchids.Iwroteapoemaboutitthismorning.Iseeinthat orchid,inthebeautyofitsblooms,somethingoftheproofofthespiritofyour belovedwifeandourgoodfriend,Kim.Ihopeithonoursthesoulofbeautythat wasthetruthofyourbeloved'slife.

thedaythenewsofyourpassingcame theorchid yougaveus severalyearsago boresevenblooms everysooften itlostthelight anddroppeditswitheredpetals tothepot likethefallingthere ofbeautyintodarkness wedutifullycared forwantoffaithinfutureflowering thoughit thinneddowntoasinglelonesomestem greenwiredtotheleaves wepampereditwithice setlikevanishingjewelsupontheearth wheretherootsdrank meltwaterslow aswiththeexpertiseofforestspring thewinterwentaway assunlightsorrowsintonight likefrostreleasingheat andifthesoulisreal withinthesoil andtheheart’saseed forbreakingopen intotruthsoflife

thenbythesefragile blossomsyou’reknown infragrantmomentsofrenown andbyeternalrhythmsofetherealMays we ’reprovenever-presentinourabsence evermore…

ByJoséEnriqueVelázquezSilva

Kimwasalwaysever-sokindandcompassionate.Shewasindeedalsosovery fairandsupportive.Andshewassuchapleasuretobearound. Whenourpathsdidcross,itwasnearlyalwaysatliteraryevents–booklaunches,readings,andthelike,withtheoccasionaldinnerafter–andit wasalwayssuchajoytalkingwithher,catchingup. Idohavemanyofthesewonderfulmemories.AndIwillcherishthemalways.

ForKimberleyGrove

Onthewindingpathofthislife,wesometimes meetpeoplewhomakeitstraighter oratleasteasiertogetthrough.

Whiletherestofusmakeendlessplans thesearetheoneswhomakethingshappen andgoaswellaspossibleinanimperfectworld.

Wearegatheredheretoday tosupportourgoodfriendTai,aswe celebratethelifeofKim,hisbetterhalf.

Itisdifficulttounderstandwhy peoplewhomaketheworldbetterhave toleave,butItakesolaceinourcommunity.

So,let’sremembertoappreciateeachother, andjoininraisingaglass,aswepaytribute toallourdearoneswhohavepassed.

AuthorBio:PatrickConnorsisalong-timeCCLAmemberwhohasbeen publishedinDevour,TheEnvoy,andTheAmbassador,aswellasseveral anthologies,includingBottomoftheWineJar,editedbyManuelDeJesús VelázquezLeón,andlaunchedinthebeautifulpearlofGibara,Cuba,inJanuary, 2017.

PatConnors 6472718610

ByJoséEnriqueVelázquezSilva

Cometothewallandwait.

Wewalk,KimandIandpassmanywalls.

Awallrisingfromamottledsidewalk

Aprivacywall

Aredbrickwall

Aterracottawall

Wemarvelatthewalltoppedbydarklichen, thewallinvadedbyfloweringplants. thewallprotectedbyaroundtower. Wefindonepaintedgreenand therewewait.

Beyondistheoceancrashingintotheseawall. UnlikethebusystreetswithlonglinesofCubans waitingtobuywhateverisdelivered, it’slonelyhere. Thisiswherewe’llswim.

ThankyousomuchforinvitingmetosubmitsomepoemsinhonourofKim Grove.

Iwillalwaysrememberhowpositiveandgenerousherspirit,andhowloving andjoyfulhermanner. IadmiredthelovethatsheandTaishared. HereareafewpoemsthatIthinkconnectwithKim’svibrantspirit. Blessingsonthisproject, Katie.

ByJorgePérezHernández

Oconstantmoon, youilluminatemytracks, almostimperceptible atopthisthinblanket ofice-crustedsnow. Mayyouhidemyscribbling’s andnibbles inshadowycorners, andrevealformyshinyeyes pearlsofhardcorn,crumbs andpaperboxesofflakes Icangnawholinessinto. Sendabeamslantwise intothefarmwindow, drenchthedresserdrawer’sraggynest oftatteredflannel wheremybabeslieopaque inwoolenscraps; wheremywarmlimabeans nestletogetherdreaming six-small-parts-into-one bigmousedream ofnutbutters andflecksofsharpcheddar. Iwillscurrymyprayer acrossthestonemantel beneaththeclock: Myblessingsonallcracks andcubbyholes,

mythanksforallthingssmall andwithseeds, mywishforprotection fromowleyesandtraps, andthingswithlids. Omoon,youseeme whenothersdonot, youknowmybrownfur’ssheen, andyoureflectforme myowngreatsmallness inyourimmensely darkandspeckledsky.

I.

LoononlappingGeorgianBay, pastthesaltdocksandrakedsand. Suddenlythere,thebird hasbobbedupfurther fromwhereitplunged–further thanimaginedbreathcouldbeheld. Aloneunderthemid-daymoon.

II.

Loonstaysundersolong youalmostforgethedescendedatall. Youturnbacktoyourbookonthebeach andthen,likenostalgia,hecomes farfromwhereyouexpected hecouldgo. III. Loontiltshisstraightbeak andtuckshiswebbedfeetfortake-off–flapsrhythmicwingsthatslap downandup–loonandhiswavymirror-twin leavingaleanVtrail.

Inthedusk,amauve-inksky smearsdown todarkground,settles. Lightthetwistedwick, leaveitswaveringglow totheeveningbreeze–itwillfalterandflameitswaytowax. Meltyourbodydown, restinthisshrineofstillness–nightbirds looningintosilence. Smellthedarkeninglakepines. Asyourbodysurrenders totheearth yourcotbecomesanaltar.

ForKimberleyGrove

Youarethere Inthebluefieldsofspring, Wheretodaythegreenleavesshine, Whicharelostinalushbeauty Wherethefreshlilysprouts Andayellowcrownisborn Fullofwhitelaurels. Wheretheclearmoansareheard Ofthewindthatcomesfromtheclouds. Thereinthatnewworldeventhebrokenbranches Thatliveamongtheancienttrees, Arefulloflove,peaceandeternallife. Thereyoucanhearthetrillsoflove Constantlyrepeatedbylight-wingedbirds. Thereyoucanseethecharmingfigureoftheangels Passing, Singingtemptingandsweetsongs Ofpraisededicatedtoyournewlife.

ByJorgeAlbertoPérezHernández

November2,2024

Yourtimehere isapeople’sconstruct measuredinhours, daysandyears ignitingcreativity inspiringanduniting withlifeforces ofevolutionaryprocesses leavingbehind intheirconfigurations aloving,spirituallegacy. Youthuscontinue inourminds,inourhearts tobuildonmemories.

InCelebrationofKimGrove’sLife:

Reaches.AlthoughIwasnotinapositiontogettoknowhermore,myrespect andaffectionforhergrewwitheveryinstantwherewewereabletohangout together.Herwork,herpoetryandprose,liveonwithinmeandtheseeds plantedbyher,withRichard,inpromotingCanadianwritingwillunhudoubtedly flourishasoneofherlegacies.

JimandIwillcontinuetorememberthebriefbutwarmmomentswe experiencedwithKimandcherishthem.

ONTARIO’SNORTHERNWOODS

Autumnpreens

Withburstsofreds

Andorangeandgolds;

Primpingcrimsonsumaches

Exactattention

Leavesofmaplesandbirches

Splashtheircolours

Daringwinter’sembrace

Tocoverallwithashenblanket

Enshroudingverdantfirs.

Aboveitallachatteringworld

Continuesitsoblivion

Whileunderneathfluffedwhite

Earthyhibernation

Intertwinesitself

Withleavesre-sustaining

Fromwhencethey’vecome

Tonurturenewlife

Surgingintobeing

Tosproutitsblossomingsprays

Ofspringtimeblooms.

UPONTHECONDITIONOFAGEING

Presenceslowlyfades

Intoinvisibility

Relationshipthreads

Imperceptiblyfray.

Atwitch,atwinge,awheeze

Insinuateintomuscles

Remindersthatthemotor

Isrunningdown.

Passionsfade;interestsdisperse

Ideasscatter;conclusionsblur

Amereblipinhistory’swheel

Relentlesslylumberingforward

Itsgearsgrindingthrutheages

Sowingnewideasasgrist

Fornewgenerations.

Ourbodiesmingle

Withawelcomingearth

Foreventualreturn

Tostardust.

Andthat’sallthereis.

THEJOYOFSONG

Thelyricallilt

Ofmusicalnotes

Inflight,soaringto

Theendofmemories

Intheirtonality

Getlostinamaze

Ofdisjointedsounds

Nurturingnewsong

Injoyfulcounterpoint

Withpitchwelded

Intointerlockingharmonies

Soaringinrandomabandon

Liftingheartsoutofdespair

Restoringprofoundrepair

Totheraggedsplintersof

Realitypiercingourlives.

POETRYIS…

Toexperiencemagicalmoments

Delightsofdiscovery

Asweeaseintorhythms

Ofsoundforecstasyfromwords.

PoetsareFlashesoflightning

Cleavingatsealedcomplacency:

Neruda,Hikmet,Tagore

HoChiMinh,Brecht,Martí

Mistral,Livesay,andHughes

Tonamejustafew,opening

Newworldstotraverse

Thruuniqueperception.

Poetryiskindlingonfire

Searingmindswith

Challenginginsights

Oritmaybeanode

Ferryingustocalmerseas.

Wesailwithabandon

Discoveringsensuality

Nurturingloveor

Dazzleanddash

Arousedwithflows

Ofcleverandfresh

Withwordswhichunfurl

Beckoningustochisel

Ideasintonewconfigurations.

JoséEnriqueVelázquezSilva

ByKatharineBeeman

Fall

Kimis intheyellowleaves gentlydrifting

Winter Kimis atopthecrustysnowbank frostedbytheblueglowofevening

Spring inthetenderbudofawingedmaple twirlingfromthetree

Kimis

Summer intheturquoisetidewafting watertobeachtowateroffGuardalavaca boisterouslygreetedbybeachgoingCubans isKim

Kim simply is.

OntheoccasionofatributeheldtothememoryofKimElizabeth Grove

Someonestoodandsaidsandpapered

Tomeanavoiceheheardfromanotherroom

AndIknewwhosevoicehemeant

Wewereathousandstronginaroomthisbig HeretothinkandtalkabouthowwerememberedKim

Herlifeforusreducedtowords

Ourbold,unwaveringview,bothhersandours,ofhowwordswork toconjurefleshandblood

Herwordslikemorningandafternoonrestingattheopenmic Beadsandpebbles,fossilstohername

Breakersonahumancoast

Kim,wholivedinnaturelivedhereforjustthisday

Kim,whopickedanorchidbloom

Andgaveeachofusaleafthatfelltoscoopabreathofair

Kim,herlifeinwords

Andbirdsthatpulledonthreads

Birds,likeKim,amongtheboughsthatheldthosethreads

Andgaveawarpandweavetoalifeinwords

AnorchidbloominaCubangarden

AnorchidinthebiggestroomonEarth

WhenIthinkofKim

Iforgivetheworlditssins

Andhearakindnesscomingfromanotherroom

WhentheLordneedsguardianangels,hechosesamongustheverybest...That's whysometimesweareshockedbythenewsofthepassingonofsomeonevery special...Wecan'tacceptthiskind,sweet,understanding,intelligent,supportive, lovingcreaturehasleftus...ButwemustunderstandthatiftheLordneeds guardianangels...hemusttaketheverybestofus...!

JorgeAlbertoPérezHernández,CCLAAmbassador,Editor

MiguelÁngelOlivéIglesias,CCLACubanPresident,AssistantEditor

KatharineBeeman,ReviewingEditor

MiriamEstrellaVeraDelgado,CCLACubanPoetLaureate, ReviewingEditor

WencyRosales,CubanPresidentofCCLAFederationofPhotography

LisaMakarchukourCanadianVPas(former)ReviewingEditor

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