Skywalker Storyteller Works

The Heart of the Matter – A Poem for Reflection

Posted on August 4, 2013 10 Comments

This week a reflective poem I wrote three years ago.

The Heart of the Matter

Is the heart of the matter

the question at hand

or the substance of the discussion

the topic of the moment?

Is the heart of the matter

the emotional underpinning

we fear to let surface

to hide our true face

or admit the depths of feelings

polite conversation

fails to utter.

At Home in Homer, Alaska – Final Haiku

Posted on July 20, 2013 17 Comments

View from our living room balcony

Waking to sea view

soaring with majestic heights

Alaska summer

We arrived in Homer, June 18th, in the afternoon. Our trip was blessed with good weather, no accidents, or car mishaps. The drive was challenging for me but a good introduction to Alaska driving. The beach is just across the street from our apartment and provides a relaxing and refreshing seaside walk. Across the bay are mountains, active volcanoes, and glaciers.

The library, where I’m posting from today, is filled with art, native Alaska wood, and creative metal carvings. The post office has stained glass window designs of eagles and the sea. Today we attended a street art fair and met several friendly artists and welcoming members of the Homer Arts Council. So, even though we’re still sleeping on the floor on our thin mats and sleeping bags, we do feel at home and fortunate to be living in such a beautiful town.

We call this Brian’s Beach

And Sky’s sea and mountains

Homer Odyssey – Alaska – Haiku 13

Posted on July 18, 2013 3 Comments

Snow tipped stone towers

fields of purple petaled weeds

rushing rivers roil

This haiku and photo give just a glimpse of the beauties we’ve seen. Detailed stories and poems of our Canada/Alaska drive await. Today is our last day of challenging Alaska driving and we arrive in Homer. This may also be the last post for a few days. Thanks for sharing in our journey.

Homer Odyssey – Ferry Ride – Haikus and Photos

Posted on July 15, 2013 6 Comments

Haiku 9 – Columbus Ferry – 07/13/2013 – 0406

Rolling white tipped waves

craggy snow topped green mountains

morning daylit sky.

The ride on the Columbia Ferry along the Alaska Marine Highway passed quickly. Here are a few observations and photos, which only capture a fraction of the huge, monumental mountains.

Haiku 10

Sun warm on body

white wake wave musical movement

ferry afternoon.

Haiku 11

Snow capped mountains stand

above rolling green treed hills

Alaska shoreline.

Haiku 12

Still ice smooth water

glides between spruce covered hills

restful afternoon.

Homer Odyssey – Bellingham, WA – Haiku 8

Posted on July 11, 2013 8 Comments

Beautiful Bellingham, Washington

Tall lush deep green trees

curtains over winding roads

scenic country drive

We did it, drove to Bellingham, Washington using back roads and avoided Interstate 5 except for a five minute mistake, yesterday, in Everett, looking for Broadway, which we did find. This haiku describes the drive from Everett to Bellingham, today, primarily on State Road 9. Bellingham is a quaint port town and our departure point, tomorrow, on the Alaska Ferry to Haines, Alaska.

While we are on the ferry, I may be off line for a few days. But, we’ll be taking photos and enjoying our first big ship ride with more haikus and experiences to share.

Homer Odyssey – Ellensburg, WA – Haiku 7

Posted on July 9, 2013 11 Comments

Haiku 7 – Ellensburg, WA

Ebony hides shine

in summer sun, cows munch grass

moo, stare at humans

We’re spending our second of four nights in the state of Washington. This part of the drive has been filled with winding roads ascending and descending. The weight in our trunk acts like an accelerator when we drive down the 3% – 6% inclines, so to control my car I decelerate so slowly even heavy trucks pass me. Even, still the car seemed at times to be following it’s own mind on the drive to Yakima, Washington yesterday. So after we checked out of the hotel today, we dropped by Jiffy Lube in Yakima. A tire rotation, brake flush, engine cleaning, and other minor repairs are giving a better drive and control.

Now, excitement is beginning to settle in. I’ve driven 1,241 miles and in just three days we’ll be boarding the Alaska Ferry.

The cows graze in a field across the street from our hotel here in Ellensburg.

Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho

Posted on July 8, 2013 Leave a Comment

This is another Toemail post.

Homer Odyssey – Baker City, Oregon – Haiku 6

Posted on July 7, 2013 4 Comments

Haiku 6 – Winding Roads, Baker City, Oregon

Mountains meander

sharp curving roads do challenge

driving loaded car.

I have been driving for little more than five continuous years and most of that time has been in sparsely populated Indian nations. This journey is presenting me with situations I’ve not encountered before which I suppose, in the long run, will make me a better driver.