Eyebrows down Shoulders up Fists tight Spine curved Tensions radiating Body language gyrating Conversations dispersing Thoughts scattering Squeeze it Twist it Push it Force it Back in Because It’s not polite To shout
Author: marialegault
I spend my time hiking in nature and reading great novels.
The Ship [Poem]
When my ship comes in, I’ll buy a brand new pair of shoes And run far away. With crisp sails unfurled, My ship will come safe into harbour; Rough waters far behind. I’ll unload its burgeoning Weight, forge an unbreakable chest, And thrust the key from me. For now I linger – hopeless, Watching those…
While You Were Out [Poem]
While you were out working, I went to the fair. I tried out all the rides; I licked the ice cream. All day I played, expecting a Revelation of fun. I slowly found myself wishing I, too, was at work. So that it wouldn’t seem Quite so pointless. I have more fun when I Have…
Humid Hiking [Poem]
My skin so hot and sticky, Hair adhering messily To my throat, chest, face. Mosquitoes humming hungrily, Low along the ground (When will they land? Soon.) My huffing, wheezing breath Attracts them – they fly Upwards, prick me, everywhere. I slap ineffectually on my Thighs, belly, face, neck, Still they rise, a living cloud. My…
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
Stoppard, Tom. (1993). Arcadia. Faber and Faber; London. The first time I read through Arcadia, the subtle nuances went right over my head – whoosh! – and I was left contemplating the slim paperback with some discomfort at the end of my reading. I’m sure that seeing the play would have left me similarly disjointed….
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Atwood, Margaret. (1993). The Robber Bride. Seal Books; Toronto. I confess that this is the only Margaret Atwood novel that I have ever read. As my taste in reading changes over the years, I will likely find that her writing appeals to me more and more. Her writing is incredibly detail-oriented, and in this particular…
Transcribing for the Soul
After several intense days of conducting surveys outdoors on a golf course, I am very happy to be back in my office with a big pile of responses to compile, analyze, and report on. Don’t get me wrong – I love working outdoors, and acting as Survey Captain with several wonderful assistants at the 2014…
Blog Anniversary: 200 Posts!
As I sit down to write my 200th blog post on this platform, I find myself taking a moment to pause and evaluate my progress, as well as consider the future. This blog began on August 27th, 2013 at 15:39 with a brief overview of some thought-provoking websites. Shortly thereafter, I failed the physical exam…
Block Parents® and Jane’s Walk Programs
Last week I was shocked to see a shiny, crisp, red-and-white Block Parent® sign in the window of a house along a quiet suburban street in Waterloo. For those who do not know about the Block Parents® Program of Canada, it is a registered charity that tells “children, seniors and others that help is at hand if…
House of Many Shadows by Barbara Michaels
Michaels, Barbara. (1974). House of Many Shadows. Berkley Books; New York. As a young teenager, my frequent immersions into the world of fiction meant that I enjoyed the rather tawdry and sensational novels in the genre of Gothic romances. House of Many Shadows fits into this category quite nicely, and innocent, doe-eyed readers will find…
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Chopin, Kate. (1899, 2008). The Awakening. Premier Classic Paperback; New York. It is hard for me to fathom how this book was written and published so very long ago, although Knopf Publishing Group thoughtfully outlines a chronology of historical events to contextualize the work in my version. While reading the book, I had to keep…
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Plath, Sylvia. (1963, 2009). The Bell Jar. Faber and Faber Limited; London. I recently came across a compilation of 49 quotes from Sylvia Plath on Thought Catalog and it reminded me of her notorious (and only) novel. The Bell Jar goes into a category all its own in the world of novels – not only…
Maria Legault 