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Around Dusk
clouds are subliminal layers
of iridescence
one upon another as
evening survives
another day
within this ravaged forest
tormenting machines stilled
from their
insatiable demand
for growing greenbacks
primeval timber
anxious for a respite,
where burnished pines guard
as silhouettes
atop the joy of wilderness
ancient sunset masks
reddened tears,
frightened for tomorrow’s
further
outrage of shame.
Hartland Bridge, New Brunswick
Pebbles spray our wooden
bridge cars hurrying by
places to go, late already
ancient structure a history of
craftsmanship where little boys
wheel bicycles, doll carriages
and dogs slumbering by
listen to thumping tires
in their race over this river, once
laying on belly, soothing water
pure for healthy gulps
now gasoline fumes and oil
dribble out defiance at the
freshness of this night.
A brocade of studded stars
highlight moon’s yawn reflecting
river’s coiling mist an evening
of invitation, sleepy ducks
settling on river’s surface
and silent swoops capturing rest
in the shadows of memory.
Richard L. Provencher was born Sept. 10, 1942 in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. He developed a love of
the outdoors through hiking and camping trips with the Boy Scouts at Swinging Hills. "You spend
so much time in the outdoors, you're going to turn into a tree," his father said.
Richard whetted his appetite for adventure by hitchhiking across most of Canada in 1962.
Then worked for the Ontario government in James & Hudson Bays, later earning the title of chess
champ in 1967. And wrote his first story about Al Comfort, a friend who drowned in the Moose River.
He developed a background for story material with positions as a Miner, News Reporter, Court Worker,
Welfare Case Worker, Social Assistance Administrator and Home for Aged Administrator. In between busy
career moves, he began to write poetry and his favourite poets became Raymond Souster, a friend and
Archibald Lampman, who wrote wonderful imagery.
Richard is very proud to be associated with WFNS, and to have been
a Writer in the Schools for eight years, before his stroke in 1999.
He also cherishes being part of a poetry reading at Dalhousie University,
and a public reading of his stories at the Truro, Colchester Regional Museum.
His first Poetry Chapbook, In the Light of Day is now available at
Mercutio Press in Montreal. He has many stories and poems in print and online
with various journals, such as Cold Glass, PusanWeb, Danforth Review, Jones Av, Windsor
Review, Pittsburgh Quarterly, VLQ, Poems Neiderngasse, Expressions of Soul, Utmost Christian
Writers and Friends, a short story collection for schools, published by Rubicon Publishing Inc.
He continues to write in all venues, and seeks publication for his poetry, juvenile and
one adult novel-books. Richard and his wife, Esther, live in Truro, Nova Scotia. They have
four children and five grandchildren.
Federation of Nova Scotia Writers
Email: Richard L. Provencher
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