Empty Rays

Alluring light
Blinding bright
Against glass sparkling pass
With warmth promise
Red nosed though
The frosty air amiss
Anemoi—Boreas blows
Cold North undaunted rose
Frost bites, wind burns
In caps, gloves, scarves,
We venture through shining, empty rays
Seeing day
Yet feeling night


(City Hall, Downtown Calgary, Ab)

Leaving the house, my four-year-old daughter and I were optimistic about the day. The sun shone with glorious brilliance. White, eggshell shaded clouds hung against a powder-blue sky. How could we suppress the desire to explore the city, escaping my artificially lit house? While the thermometer read 15 Celsius or about 60 Fahrenheit, the wind whipped through the balding trees and barely repelled by our jackets. Wrapped tightly, we ventured out, taking photos along the way and the product of our adventures—inspiration.

(Lightrail train station in downtown Calgary, AB)