Charlene Long - Pathway to Memories

Thinking of my Mom and our shared memories led me to rediscover the poems of Canadian poet Pauline Johnson. Rereading her poems inspired me to create a series based on her works. Each painting was inspired by a specific passage from one of her poems or legends.

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Through the far cool distance	As cloud and colour blend at set of sun	The seaweeds cling with flesh-like fingers. The rocks get shelter that the sands deny	With pools of purple colouring the skies

Northern Skies Alive with Flames	There are fires on Lulu Island and the sky is opalescent	The scent of burning leaves, the campfire blaze	The pools low lying, dank with mould. Glint through their mildews like large caps of gold

To Salish waves that fling their spray	So gently creeps the morning through the heavy air	Uncertain clouds, half-high, suspend	The rocks beneath your feet

Tonight the west o’er brims with warmest dyes	I dream tonight	Sounds of the days of summer murmur and die away	Great has been the run

Alone, alone with God’s glory earth that seems	Reflections from the gold and glowing light	And when at eventide the sun	In forest arms the night will soonest creep

Where the waterfalls and forest voice forever their duet	Where the river mists are rising	And call across the fading silver night As something calls to me	The far, far Trees that cover The brownish hills with needles green and gold

The sun outbreaking in his farewell hour	Let me but feel the pulse of nature’s soul		And the wailing pine trees murmur with their voice attuned to hers

Where the rushes lift	Where the very silence slumbers	Beneath me far Where not a ripple moves to mar