My Daughter Eliza
is getting ready
Eye presume
for her trip to Africa —
Tanzania — did Eye spell that right?
for the wedding of a lifetime
and She picked out her own dress
and shoes
oh — and her brother Peak
is going !2!
Last night Eye went out
with My Husband’s Girlfriend
and boy is she beautiful!
Her long black hair
is really hair extensions
but she babies her hair —
Her eyes are large
with those famous arching brows
but best of all —
her face shrinks
into itself
at her chin
and Eye am inspired
to sculpt
Her Portrait
For The Shag Harbour Incident’s
51st Anniversary
I wore My New
Royal Blue Jumpsuit
bra less —
Eye pulled It off
Good Morning Glennis:
Just want you to know that Eye read ALL of your work. Eye love your simple descriptions of life events, traumatic and happy. You are a very good writer. Eye hope you read this. Eye hope to visit New Zealand some day.
Joanna
across the flagstone driveway
where Eye would find Fool’s Gold
My Father’s Father Bobby Hyde
constructed a stone play house
to match the stone dwelling He built by hand
named “The House In The Woods”
Remember: The Play House
was only high enough
for children
and My Mother tole painted the cupboards
on either side of The Children’s Fireplace —
My Parents had a birthday party for Me
there, seated at the table and kids’ benches
built by My Mother’s Father
which She painted too in rich blue
with daisies to match Her Cupboards
Eye Rose Today
@ The Time of My Birth
to hear the subtle waves
through My Bathroom Window —
It’s still dark out
but I write by My Beside Light
and decide to return
the lipstick Eye chose
to wear
for My Opening
On My First Outing
with Dr Blair, after
showing him My Aquarium Mural
on the ceiling of the IWK* burn unit —
and going to Tim Horton’s —
Eye lay on the grass
of a Halifax park
to look into His Eyes of Blue:
“Do you think I am
The Second Coming of Christ?”
Eye hesitantly asked —
“No,” he said
“You’re a cheap date.”
*Isaac Walton Killam Children’s Hospital
and Eye am The Grit —
the contaminant, the irritant
and layer by layer
Eye will come out
Gleaming
—- Eye have re-created The Holy Trinity:
God The Mother, Daughter and The Holy Ghost
Here is an artist’s note on the back of her painting
found at the Salvation Army in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia:
“Jim, Here is the painting that you forgot to take with you on Saturday. I hope you like it! Hope to see you again soon.
From, Robin”
Robin MacGillavray ’99
Joanna Gilman Hyde 