friendship

alignments, connections, and collaborations

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Last week I received a huge box at my door, and inside the box was an original piece of art, an unexpected gift of a painting from a talented and kind artist friend whom I collaborated with at Banff Centre. How over the top generous of Lynda Schneider Granatstein. Her gift reminding me of how inspiring to be part of something bigger than myself, to have someone invite me to participate in their process brings life. The painting is now hung in a place of honour, and I am thankful. Thank you again, dear Lynda.

This morning I received an email from a fellow blogger in Kenya, Africa. Kenny is someone I’ve connected with online around poetry. Kenny writes poetry on his blog Kolembo (and elsewhere) that turns me inside out, it’s raw, unique, gutsy, haunting and lyrical. Today Kenny asked if he might include a poem of mine on a blog venture he’s involved with. Of course, I said yes. In a couple of hours you will find ‘Provision’ included  in this months selection over at Ten of the Best (and I say that with my heart in my throat feeling less than worthy of inclusion). Kenny, my friend, thank you. And for the African sunshine you sent me today… double thanks. I can feel the warmth on my shoulders.

God continues to surprise and intrigue me.

SDG,

Lesley-Anne

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I get by with a little help from my friends

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Here’s to friends, real, tried and true, old like a comfortable slipper, new and heart racing scary, virtual friends, and those yet to be.

Girls skipping at an athletics carnival

Girls skipping at an athletics carnival (Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection)

Here’s to friends who share wisdom, like another supper idea when the recipe box in my head comes up empty, or say no when the bathing suit is just a little on the scanky side. Here’s to friends who laugh til they pee when I say something completely off the wall, and share their leftovers, and pass me kleenex at just the right moment, and let me use their chapstick.

And here’s to wordie friends… those who read and listen and affirm and suggest. The ones who understand the writing life is a bit lonely at times, who know a village, similar to the one required to raise a child, is needed to release a poem to the world. The ones who say something back when you say something you think might be OK to say out loud.

I have what I think might be a new poet/blogger friend in Vancouver, just over the mountains to the west. I recall reading about Samantha once in the paper, a couple of years ago. She inspired me. I found her online recently and read her blog, read what she’s up to which includes writing a poem a day for over a year. Wow.

And although I have yet to meet this friend face to face, she gave me a gift. What a generous spirit Samantha Reynolds has. What a gift to be featured on her blog, bentlily!  Thank you Samantha Reynolds! Thank you for believing, like me, that writing words down must always be followed by giving them away. Thank you, my friend.

Here’s the link to bentlily, Samantha Reynolds stunning, uplifting and creative blog.

And here’s the link to bentlily’s featured poet for the week (me).

Breathless and happy,

Lesley-Anne, SDG