Reaching into the pocket of a spring jacket
A jacket not worn since last year
What’s here?
A small slip of paper with your hospital room number – the first of five rooms you lived and died in

Scorched fingertips drop the slip back in the pocket
Flames briefly light that scene as I look back
And flicker as tears quench the fires of remembrance

Sugar drifts on watermelon mountains
Sifts onto pinon-studded hills
A brief taste of winter
And welcome water for this precious northern desert

Pearlescent clouds scudding south
Seeded with rain that falls as small grains onto the steaming pavement

Turquoise treasure to remind me of these wondrous skies and this time in my hearts’s homeland

I’m not one that commonly will be found posting verses from the Bible, but this was one of my father’s favorite verses, and also the verse from which the University of Alberta’s motto – Quaecumque vera - comes.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.