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.
ByRichardM.Grove
ForKim
Itisastillgreyday atScarboroughBluffs watchingthevulturesglide.
IwishIcouldsoarlikeavulture silentlystandontheairandgaze beyondthegreyhorizon lookingforyouonmy effortless,timelessslide onthebreezeofinfinity.
ByRichardM.Grove(Tai)
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.
ByJoséEnriqueVelázquezSilva
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
ByPatrickConnors
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
ByDonnaWootton
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
ByKateMarshallFlaherty
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.
ByJoséEnriqueVelázquezSilva
ByKateMarshallFlaherty
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.
ByKateMarshallFlaherty
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
ByLisaMakarchuk
November2,2024
Yourtimehere isapeople’sconstruct measuredinhours, daysandyears ignitingcreativity inspiringanduniting withlifeforces ofevolutionaryprocesses leavingbehind intheirconfigurations aloving,spirituallegacy. Youthuscontinue inourminds,inourhearts tobuildonmemories.
InCelebrationofKimGrove’sLife:
ByLisaMakarchuk
Reaches.AlthoughIwasnotinapositiontogettoknowhermore,myrespect andaffectionforhergrewwitheveryinstantwherewewereabletohangout together.Herwork,herpoetryandprose,liveonwithinmeandtheseeds plantedbyher,withRichard,inpromotingCanadianwritingwillunhudoubtedly flourishasoneofherlegacies.
JimandIwillcontinuetorememberthebriefbutwarmmomentswe experiencedwithKimandcherishthem.
ONTARIO’SNORTHERNWOODS
ByLisaMakarchuk
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
ByLisaMakarchuk
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
ByLisaMakarchuk
Thelyricallilt
Ofmusicalnotes
Inflight,soaringto
Theendofmemories
Intheirtonality
Getlostinamaze
Ofdisjointedsounds
Nurturingnewsong
Injoyfulcounterpoint
Withpitchwelded
Intointerlockingharmonies
Soaringinrandomabandon
Liftingheartsoutofdespair
Restoringprofoundrepair
Totheraggedsplintersof
Realitypiercingourlives.
POETRYIS…
ByLisaMakarchuk
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.
ByAnthonyDiNardo
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
ByMiriamEstrellaVeraDelgado
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