Goodbye Edmonton with God and Eric Clapton

Tess Ashton

18 February 2016

Goodbye Edmonton with God and Eric Clapton

Goodbye
to quiet
moments
before and after
visits to a
bunch of
attractions
off the
north saskatchewan
river

light shining through

The zoo
has a kea
in its bird collection
wings and eyes
dead empty
we’ve seen you dance
pinching cakes
at Arthurs Pass
we tell it
through
weeping
bars
gently

I’m at my
breaking point
my breaking point

Goodbye
to Remedy Café
we loved your
cakes
and
local organics
your caffeine fixes
‘n blitzed up elixirs
chai lattes
stewed
for three
days and
nights

fill up my heart
or tear it apart

Goodbye to
our daughter
her Edmonton
man’s
back-yard
silent
‘til eleven

been waiting for
your company

the Metis Indian
neighbours’
invitation
to “a fire”
last Thursday
still warming
the air this
Labour Monday
and the squirrels
are quiet

you take my heart
into everything
you do

In the
dark belly of our
basement quarters
renovated
through a
sub-zero winter
we’ve prayed
in whispers
summer bush
fires

let it rain
rain rain

the stumble and gurgle
of the gas
air conditioning
a treat
to the beat of
what’s deep
and active

I’m with you my love

From bed
sent our smoke signals
three stories out
found a sky
to rest on
my toothache
settled

knock knock
knockin’
on heaven’s door

God said
‘I have
Everything sorted’
felt the download
like an upload
God’s great sense
of fun-load

I said
you put my heart
on overload

Am sure He said

I feel wonderful
tonight

Drove south
found a field
with prairie fever
small otter-e heads
popping
up all over
amazing
tunnel
architecture

getting too dark
to see

From the car
the plains
go nowhere
much
between grey pylons
under pounce
of crash and boom
clouds
lately bush fire yellow
or a red sun

you don’t realise
how much
I love
You

Feels like
we’re drifters
our voices
lost in prairie
time and distance
further than
imagination
goes

I must be strong
and carry
on

Thanks
Mr Clapton
we’re singing
Alberta Alberta

in all your
wandering
places
in all your
wondering
tones

©Tess Ashton
Image  Eric Clapton, Leonid Afrema with kind permission