Four After Genevie Henderson, by Liz Kornelsen

Elusive, by Genevie Henderson (Canada) 2023

Elusive            
 
A moment       takes flight
You lean in
crane your neck
eyes riveted
on the fading sight until
the dot vanishes in a cloud.
You would dash, sprint, gallop
if pounding heart and panting breath 
could recall the radiant angel that sailed
into the shallow of the marsh
wings filling azure blue like daisies
unfurling their petals, infusing your own sky
with white luster, folding softly as chiffon 
wrapping you in reverie.
 
A moment       swept away
 
Still, this remains: a pressing 
into your memory like a rare
and precious flower
the colour of serenity.
 

Nurturing, by Genevie Henderson (Canada) 2023

Love’s Nature             

An Ojibwe legend tells the story of the beautiful Star Maiden, who fell from the sky into the water. When she splashed down, she transformed into the first water lily.
 
Do you see it?
Star Maiden falling from the sky 
plunging into placid pool… 
a rebirth!
petals taper skyward, paying homage to their Source            
while cradling sachets of their destiny
scent and color clarion calls to bees and butterflies                
dragonflies and beetles:
Come drink, dip into the cup of rich
sweet nectar and quench your thirst.
 
They leave
signatures of gratitude, lavish showers of gold stardust
to sink with fading flower into murky water
a journey into dormancy, until the seeds are ready 
to reawaken, pads and flowers forming, rising           
from the muck to float and flourish on the liquid mirror.
 
I dare you
lean over the edge.
Do you see yourself reflected
in the infinite cycle of nurturing Love?

Crane Ascending, by Genevie Henderson (Canada) 2022

Rising              
 
Stout body, slate gray with flecks of copper
tapers to a slender curved neck
small head sporting a crimson cap
at the other end, a swanky tufted bustle
drooping over your rump.
 
You rise from river’s edge
neck stretching forward into the wind
wings fling out, expand
my sense of awe. Legs trailing 
you propel yourself into an aerial
creature of balletic grace.
 
Are you rising to join the swoop of cranes
fleeing winter to holiday in Mexico? 
riding thermals to higher and higher 
heights until you fade from view
all the while blending your voice
in a choir of resonant rattling calls
or perhaps you are leaping in exuberant
hope that your mate will be enamoured and moved 
to dance with you, bobbing, bowing, fanning wings,
tossing grass, calling garooo-a-a-ah
the sweet tango of avian love!

Reef 5, by Genevie Henderson (Canada) 2020

Wild Rivers     
 
Veins of the earth release 
solidity of blue ice to orange-hot
sun fire, currents pulse again,
channels open, nourish the greening 
of trees and unfurling of fiddleheads.
Scent of white cedar suffuses 
my breath, butterflies emerge, 
a silky wing caresses my cheek 
and in my ear an ethereal song 
of pure light and red poppies 
flow through my own chilled veins.
On the morning horizon the mauve 
of mallows, a blossoming of awe.

Liz Kornelsen

Liz Kornelsen is a prairie poet and the author of Arc of Light and Shadow: Poems with Art (2021). Previous publications include Wild Whispers and The Braided Way. She has been known to lose track of time hiking, skiing, gardening, dancing or meandering through art galleries. To dance lightly on the earth in solitude, with humans, or with other forms of nature, is one of her greatest joys.

Visit the artist at https://genevie-henderson.pixels.com/.