war musket grasses
I see no soldier’s uniform as I walk along these shores
but I do see the red blood cliffs and musket grasses
and dry puzzle clay remnants but I have yet put all the
pieces together to see the whole picture
when the English and French bore arms for this Bay
a little known fact told me by a local a few weeks ago
he said to follow the water trails or streams
with one of those magnetic things and see what the
past will bring forward, he said many have found muskets
beneath the red clay graves
instead I prefer to walk, feel the clay between my toes
get my jeans red with the dye so I can at least feel some
connection with the soldiers who walked these trails
now cattle and a few horses roam here in the Fundy sun
safe and secure they keep a watchful eye on me
and I wonder if the stories were ever passed down to their
newborn, I can’t believe stories are for humans only,
if you look closely at domestic animals and wildlife
you can sense a presence, a feeling, that maybe their memories
passed down through the ages are holding the last unwritten entry
of lost lives along these grassy shores and red cliffs
well I must get back, the sun is setting and I fear the ghosts
may not like my curious nature as I walk through this
unmarked graveyard
Donna Allard
EXCERPT FROM ‘Bellwalker’ – a ships bell “a warning or an arriving” all poetry was inspired by the Acadian & Bay of Fundy Coastline 2006. Contains Canadian Poetry Association Poetry Contest 1st Place Award for “war musket grasses”.
JUDGE’S COMMENT: The highest compliment I can pay it is “Purdyesque”!
Author Donna Allard, A.K.A. Acadian Rose
ISBN 0-9738671-5-9
$15.00
