Poem: Dundonald Park

Dundonald Park

Picture a crossroad of humanity at Somerset and Lyon.

A park and Heritage Ottawa site

where one can observe:

9 to 5 workers passing through,

glancing up, texting as they avoid trees and poster pillars;

Rows of semi-synchronized elderly Asian Tai Chi practitioners

across from rummies waiting for The Beer Store to open; 

Neighbours and dog walkers chatting

a stick’s throw from scavengers hugging their bags of empty bottles;

Parents watching children scamper in a fenced-off area

shielded from addicts who contemplate their next fix.

Although a troubling mix of brush strokes,

one doubts it can be erased

yet one can hope

that after a few years of education and guidance

the proportions and habits

will have evolved.

-------------

T. A. Jobateh, July 2012

The text from this poem also appears in Capital Writers, An Ottawa Independent Writers Anthology.  Visit www.oiw.ca.  

 

Wining for a little help from my friends

I will be performing important research this summer.

As part of a much-needed vacation I will travel to Ontario's wine country in southwestern Ontario.  

As part of a guided tour, we will visit wineries plus attend wine and food pairing dinners.  We will likely be encouraged to purchase wines from the various vintners' arrays.  

It will be difficult homework. ;o)  I'm going to need some help.

Here's the deal:  Last weekend, I scored a beginner's wine rack at a community garage sale.  It's empty.  I look forward to filling it up.  To be successful in this quest, I will need recommendations from family, friends and followers. 

 

The rack will hold ten bottles.  I would like to fill it with delicious wine to enjoy over the winter.  I would also like to share the love with friends - old and new.

The first ten people to offer help will be rewarded with a bottle of the wine they recommend (or a close substitute).   I must know you in person. Sorry, no anonymous requests.   

Here's how to help, by submitting a comment at the bottom of this blog post: 

1. Clearly state the name, colour and year of the wine you recommend (Hey, all I know is White, Red and Rosé);
2. List the vineyard / winery name and approximate geographic location;
3. Provide a web site link for the vineyard / winery if you have it.  
   

Please note:  From what I have sampled during the first half of my life, I can say that I prefer White and Rosé.  Most red wines irritate my throat or make my face flush.  Ice wines?  Too darned sweet. 

Wine is featured often in my novel, The Year of the Rabbit. I regret that I didn't get in enough research time before publishing it :o)  Maybe I can enhance the second print edition with proper terminology.  

Visit the novel's blog. 

Follow @FlotTLyon as she Tweets progress using the #WineResearch hashtag.  


- - -  >^..^< - - -
 
If that didn't get your attention then here's a picture of a cat.

This little feline accosted me on my Artist Date walk last night. The Cat Lady in me almost took it home.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Remember to claim your gift on the way out. 

T