AUTUMN

Sunrise - Pen & Ink Sketch  11/2024

 

AUTUMN

On the horizon there’s a faint sliver of light,

that  slowly grows ,announcing 

the end of night. 

Leafless trees lining the shore of the northern lake ,

are reflected in its cold still water.

The sky turns to hues of red. 

The sun shyly rises above the horizon, its warmth 

stirs the cold still water, and wakens mist,

that swirls across the lake, like ballerinas, 

they greet the morning. 

And then, it’s over. 

The sun in all its glory

frees itself from the horizon. 

Frost,

that settled throughout the night 

retreats, the ballerinas, slowly return 

to the cold still water.

 Raven,

wakened from its slumber by the light,

greets the silence of the morning, 

and soars to heights from which to view,

remnants of the night.

Autumn on a northern lake.

SILENCE IS DEAFENING

Storm Brewing  - Oxtongue Lake  Pencil Sketch.  November 2024

Several days ago, despite the fact that it was mid November and cold, we travelled to Algonquin Park for a few days. To reiterate, it was cold, minuses in the morning sometimes with heavy frost and with day time temperatures never reaching the teens celsius. Still, it was very enjoyable. There was no getting out of the car and sitting sketching. I'm old, and 4C with a windchill too cold for these old bones, but I did manage a couple of sketches from inside the car. Also, on the plus side we experienced something that most who visit the park never experience, quiet. We stopped at Canisbay, Smoke, and Opeongo, Lakes, parked, turn the motor off and listen to the silence. It was deafening, no bird songs, no wind in the pines, just overwhelming silence. A bit eerie to not hear something. An experience to remember.

We're home now, the sounds are overwhelming, cars racing back and forth to the local school dropping off, and picking up children, dogs barking, people chatting, car radios blaring, squirrels chattering, kids screaming....I do wish that I was back in Algonquin. No doubt by now, should one park beside a northern lake, you can probably hear the snow falling......