winter haiku d’hiver – snow and smoke = la neige et la fumée

winter haiku d’hiver - snow and smoke = la neige et la fumée

snow and smoke
trailing after the train
dust the forest hills




écoulées du train
la neige et la fumée
couvrent la forêt

Richard Vallance

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summer haiku d’été – follow the stars = suivre les étoiles

summer haiku d’été – follow the stars = suivre les étoiles

follow the stars
not the ghosts in the forest...
the stars are angels



suivre les étoiles
pas les fantômes forestiers ...
les étoiles ? les anges !

Richard Vallance

spring haiku de printemps – fiddleheads = têtes de violon

spring haiku de printemps – fiddleheads = têtes de violon

fiddleheads
in the forested hills –
andante breeze



têtes de violon
sur les collines forestières –
brise andante

Richard Vallance

Fiddleheads are native to Canada. They taste like spinach. They thrive in the Gatineau Hills just outside Ottawa and the Outaouais.

Les têtes de violon sont endémiques au Canada. Elles ont le goût des épinards. Elles prospèrent sur les collines de la région du Gatineau proches d’Ottawa et de l’Outaouais.

I Argentée

I Argentée

I Argentée have lived a hardy life:
a Maine Coon mix, I’ve forded babbling rills,
the freest spirit, who’s never suffered strife!
Why, I have scaled formidable forest hills,
where I’ve run into coons and surly bears
who’ve never phased me in the very least;
I’ve roamed the fields and sounded foxes’ lairs,
so why be so surprised when I am deceased.
Because I pride the space I always crave,
although I was on leash, the leash was loose,
to leave me running free, for being brave,
since as you know I’ve always been so spruce!
For all the bugs I’ve chased and mice I’ve caught
I bid you, fairest friends, to mourn me not.

Richard Vallance

March 29 2019

in memoriam, fairest Argentée, libre esprit (free spirit)
April 15 2003 – March 14 2019

eternal summer haiku de l’été éternel – sweet cat passed away = chère chatte trépassée

eternal summer haiku de l’été éternel – sweet cat passed away = chère chatte trépassée

sweet cat passed away,
you dash through heaven’s forests –
my wee free spirit



chère chatte trépassée
dans les forêts du ciel –
pet’t esprit libre

Richard Vallance

in memory of my beloved Maine Coon chat, Argentée
à la mémoire de ma Maine Coon chérie, Argentée 

Canadian Spirit Voices

Canadian Spirit Voices



On Spirit Lake the voices flew 
across the coves where forests grew, 
tossing the fragrance of the sun 
over the pines where spirits run. 
Where spirits ran, they run today, 
ancestors' voices up the spruce, 
where paddlers camp but never stay 
where eagles eye the rummaging moose, 
where wolves and bears are born again 
only to see their spring cubs slain, 
where we encamped and they stormed in 
and killed the last of our last kin. 
    Can you imagine what a surprise 
    when they see clarity in our dark eyes? 

Richard Vallance

spring haiku de printemps – fiddleheads =têtes de violon

spring haiku de printemps – fiddleheads =têtes de violon 

fiddleheads
in a rain shower –
water music



têtes de violon 
dans la pluie légère –
« water music »

Richard Vallance

- based on the Water Music suite by George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
Fiddleheads blossom in late April and early May in Canada.
- basé sur le « Water Music » par George Frederick Handel (1685-1759).
Au Canada les têtes de violon fleurissent vers la fin d’avril et au début de mai.   

winter haiku d’hiver = northern lights = aurore boréale

winter haiku d’hiver = northern lights = aurore boréale

northern lights
over forest paths
phantom wolves

l’aurore boréale
sur les sentiers forestiers
loups fantômes

Richard Vallance

two winter haiku = deux haikus d’hiver

two winter haiku = deux haikus d’hiver

snowflakes brushing
white pine hills ...
forest dreams

pins blancs frôlés 
de flocons de neige ...
rêves forestiers



snowflakes brushing
wolves’ ear tufts ...
forest dreams

touffes des loups frôlées
de flocons de neige ...
rêves forestiers



Richard Vallance

Some more astounding photos of Argentée in the woods in Ottawa

Some more astounding photos of Argentée in the woods in Ottawa:

The first 2 photos in the first series of 3 are of the National Capital Commission Parkway, which is forest land running straight through the heart of Ottawa for 40 kilometres (25 miles for Americans). In the third photo we see Argentée sitting in the grass on top of the cliff you see in the first photo.

In the second series of 4 photos, you see Argentée in the grass again, and in the last photo you can see her merrily dragging me back home along the forest path. That is why she is in fact a forest cat. It is her breed. And she knows exactly where she is going.

 

The pristine beauty of Canada. Lac Philippe. Only 40 km. outside Ottawa, the Capital City

The pristine beauty of Canada. Lac Philippe. Only 40 km. outside Ottawa, the Capital City:











The most beautiful and one of the most peaceful countries on Earth. The entire country looks like this! Impressive eh!