Picnic with AlAl, you tough brilliant old bastardyou've been dead for what, 6 ... 7 years now? And yet your spirit still soars thru this godforsaken country north of Belleville permeating the equally godforsaken Canadian poetry scene We, your people's poetry progeny miss you and Uncle Milt so much we've organized a festival with your name all that's necessary to announce our intentions Now the formal parts of the festival are over It's time for beer and finger food and real poetry in the graveyard where your spirit keeps company with failed Loyalist ancestors Today you've got us to lift your spirits one crazy old hippie poet (me) is ringing a Buddhist temple bell reminding you not to be late for the feast of poets reading your poetry all beer sodden, chicken smeared and better for it This early August day in A-burgh's settler cemetery is perfect sunny, the wind coming up as the bell chimes its invocation: animals may appear I intone & sure enough, a second turtle pops onto the log from the millpond's cool depths I remember the wake in Belleville in the posh private school dining hall more Hogwartz than the owners realized Halfway through the turgid readings you flew from the rafters in the form of a bat swooping among your guests and all recognized your spirit with authentic laughs Melanie reads your poem "The Buddhist Bell" after the goofy invocation and as our vision clears we see the turtles smile as Jeff Seffinga appropriately reads "At The Quinte Hotel" all of us joining to chorus "for I am a sensitive man!" James Deahl lounges on your tombstone carved in the shape of an open poetry book his arm is draped as if over your shoulder while he props on this convenient lectern reading your words of drunken wisdom Suddenly rude crows caw above the pond Uncle Milty with his raven clan clangour their guttural approval People's Poetry is alive and well laughing from beyond the grave mingling pitch perfect with Jim's voice Chris Faiers Oct. 6/07 revised Oct. 14/07 Dedicated to James (Jim) Deahl. About the Aug. 6/07 picnic celebration in Ameliasburgh by Al Purdy's grave. * Uncle Milty is of course Milton Acorn, Purdy's best friend and fellow Governor General award winning poet. this poem appeared in "Umbrella" (May 2008) (Quinte Arts Council) |