Göttliche Gröβe - inspiration from my time in Banff

 While in Banff for a conference, (read more here, if you missed it) I enjoyed walking along this beautiful trail along the Bow River, right behind our hotel. When I came home I was inspired to write a German poem about it, which I then used as a sample poem in my Grades 6-8 German class. The poem describes what I see along the way, green water, mountains, pine trees, blooming bushes... It ends with words of gratitude, and a few lines of a fitting hymn that came to mind: 

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee. 

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Göttliche Gröβe

Ein schmaler Wanderweg

Schlängelt sich neben dem breiten Bow Fluβ,

Grűn, glänzend, ruhig.

Ein Gänsepaar gleitet geműtlich umher.

Auf der anderen Seite des Fluβes,

Ragen riesige Berge –

Grau, zerklűftet, majestätisch –

den hell blauen Himmel empor.

Im Schatten des Berges

Dunkelgrűne Fichten und Kiefern, dicht an dicht –

zapfentragende Schildwachen

stattlich, standhaft, schlank.

Buntblűhende Bűsche

Parfűmieren die feuchte Luft.

Eine leichte Brise mischt

 angenehmer Blűtenduft mit Fichtengeruch und

erfűllt entzűckend Luft und Nase.

Kiefernhäher zwitschern in ihrem Versteck

In den schattenreichen Nadelbäumen.

Schweigend, andächtig, dankbar

Schlendere ich mich ruhig dahin,

  diesen herrlichen Sommerabend-Spaziergang

In Banff, Alberta geniessen zu dűrfen!

Dann jauchst mein Herz dir groβer Herrscher zu,

Wie groβ bist du! Wie groβ bist du!

Mosquito Mantra

           Just last week, yes, when it was still April, I settled down with a book. After a few pages I heard it, that unmistakeable, super annoying, monotonous buzz. “Unbelievable!” I grumbled, “It’s only April!”

            Nevertheless, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I know only one creature with that sound and I wanted her dead. NOW! However, instead of swatting blindly, I froze, gritted my teeth and waited, knowing full well what this critter was after. Sure enough, she landed on my arm, readied for the sting. “Oh no you don’t.” And at the risk of 1000 blood-sucking relatives coming to the funeral -- Smack! “Sorry to spoil your way too early arrival!”

Yup, we’re going from winter woes straight to mosquito madness.

            Interestingly enough, a few weeks before, on a blustery Friday afternoon, a poem came to me. Not sure what inspired it – maybe the glorious absence of the petite pests. Somebody must have told Mrs. Mosquito, who promptly paid me a visit, which sadly led to her demise.