poetry

As a recent judge of The Fernie Academy Poetry Slam 2023, I was called to judge these brave and vulnerable kids once again. Children who bear their souls through Poe and Plath, who rhyme their own words with passion and poise as I sit there, mouth agape wondering how on earth I am the one to judge them. Luckily, there are others there with me, basking in the words of yore and now. Judging. Out of all of the original work that evening, one particular poem moved me a great deal. It scored the highest in its category of original work and it is my pleasure to publish it here.

As an actor, a soliloquy is that inescapable moment you have playing a character where their true feelings are exposed. It’s a vulnerable opportunity to let the audience into the internal world you create within the drama of the play. This month, I thought I’d dive deep into the world of drama and present a soliloquy for Fernie.

I met Ghaith Sabri while he was working on an organic farm in Selma, Nova Scotia, Canada. I was struck by his intriguing accent, his wild black curly hair, and his general enthusiasm for all things alive or dead. He sees the world through a cornucopia of lenses, and I wanted to be part of how he saw the world, even if it was just for a moment. He taught me about Palestine, his birthplace. He taught me about the true value of kindness. He taught me that luck is relative and that if you really engage with life, it will make you wealthy beyond measure.

As the fall burns up the living things and winter comes upon us, my mind wanders to those new mothers out there and the delicious anticipation of a baby. I am so fortunate to have two babies of my own and as they approach double digits, I am reminded of the slow moments of connection between the old and the new. The coming together of a family welcoming their newest member. The sleepless nights that bring on the delirious delicious love that babies bring.