Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, by Adrienne Stevenson

Maligne Lake, Jasper Park, by Lawren Harris (Canada) 1924

Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park 

I wonder, Lawren, if you saw an arctic lake
in place of Jasper – your stark planes
conjure the high north’s
desolate, snow-striped peaks
mirrored in near-frozen seas

your vision overlays my recollection
of Jasper Park in autumn shades
dressed in trembling gold aspen
and blue spruce stretching skywards

Maligne Lake then belied its name
— your portrayal — dark bars on its shores
the only hint of forest
                          all else bleak, barren,
unending winter — challenges faith
in spring’s return

were you beset by demons of despair
to expose such troubling beauty in shades
of mostly grey? I reach my hand to yours,
offer warmth, comfort, solace
for your death-bound view

Adrienne Stevenson

Adrienne Stevenson is a retired forensic scientist living in Ottawa, Ontario. Her poetry has been published in Bywords, Constellate Literary Journal, Still Point Arts Quarterly, Uproar, Quills, Scarlet Leaf Review, Blood & Bourbon, The Wire's Dream, The Literary Nest, The Poet-On the Road, Byline and several chapbook anthologies. Twitter @ajs4t

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