"The Stopping Place"
Pender Harbour
Seen from the Harbour when the tide ran high,
Against tall back-drop of brown and mossy rock,
I asked "what fairy hand dropped card-board house
on play-pool sea? Who cut those dipping eaves
that shadow window-eyes? Who spread white wing
of wall all edged with vivid green of spring?
Who carved railed walkway to that grassy mound
and trellised colour all along the ground?
Well now, on closer view as the tide goes down
'Tis seen real house of shingle and of wood
all wide and gracious-solid as the rock
on which it stands well-anchored 'gainst the gale!
Inside, no need of pictured still-life scenes
when every window frames the fresh delight
of endless change of nature-beauty-blest,
To soothe the tired mind and give it rest!
A siren-call - fine memory ever more -
"The Stopping Place" on Pender Harbour shore.
Vi Roedde's Poem
Fall of 1914 or spring of 1915
