Author Archives: Lainie

Along the Contoocook

IMG_0148Along the Contoocook #3

The sun unlocks and scatters

a cover of dark clouds

that seem to portent rain,

as a cluster of ducks

paddle slowly up the river

in this sultry season.

After the parting, a time

of missing you lessens

when the late afternoon sun

illuminates the forest trees

and soft winds ruffle the leaves

that shimmer in the fading light.

The memory of love overtaken

by the brilliant beauty of the day.

Lainie Senechal

Farewell to Attitash

a_002Attitash Sunset

Farewell to Attitash

I leave the lake, awash in remembrances

of living along its shore -

childhood summers carousing with cousins,

decades enjoying its seasonal charms.

Time passes and age sets in -

my days in this place are over.

Change is the expected nature of life.

Many are forced to abandoned homes

under dire and extreme circumstances.

For me there are no regrets, only a plethora

of pleasant reminiscences, a peaceful passage

on to new and unexpected adventures.

In making a final departure I carry

only time’s satchel of memories,

for my stay here has reached its end.

Lainie Senechal

After the Storm

CloudsClouds

After the Storm

The heavens opened

with a burst of raindrops

that blurred the landscape.

As the storm cleared it left clouds

gathered in the setting light.

Over Monadnock they floated -

swirled in strange, eerie

and fascinating shapes.

A time to appreciate the beauty

found in the mountains

and a wish to experience

this singular vision again.

Lainie Senechal

April Moon

IMG_0125

April Moon

April Moon

The darkened sky opens to reveal

a quite full pink moon which was submerged

under waves of thick black and gray clouds.

Its brilliant light shines so softly on

the great sprays of gold forthysia

that spring straight up like large, loose feathers

from the base of each broad, sturdy bush.

At dawn the air is rich with bird song

while spring’s sweet breath wafts in gentle wind.

Lainie Senechal

Early April

Daffodil Buds

Daffodil Buds

Early April

In spring sun remnants of snow have melted,

dripped from roof’s edges, formed rivers on path.

Robins arrive in garden, search for worms

under last autumn’s decaying brown leaves.

The shoots of emerging daffodils stretch

their long, supple, green limbs to the clear sky -

gather armfuls of golden, solar rays.

Lainie Senechal

Spring Forward

Pussywillows

Pussywillows

Spring Forward

Nature recovers from winter’s wrath

as vernal floods fill the swamps.

Spring peepers and skunk cabbage emerge

infusing the air with sounds and scents.

The headaches of last season

slowly dissipate with the arrival

of temperate days and an earth

that ruptures with new life.

Lainie Senechal

Announcement: Lainie will have paintings and poetry in “Awakening” a Zoom presentation of art, music and poetry by the Kaji Aso Studio on Sunday, April 3rd at 7pm. Go to kajiasostudioevents.com for a link to the program.

Carried by the Wind

The Rhythm of Bird Songs

The Rhythm of Bird Songs

Carried by the Wind

The transition into the next season

is not swift and is now suspended

by snow that blurs the scene

as it falls, like soft feathers,

on the still frozen turf.

One does not need to squint

to perceive the signs of spring.

They are carried by the wind

in new songs from birds

preparing to mate and nest -

avian messages about the change

that will shortly arrive.

Lainie Senechal