I felt compelled to write something about the passing of Gord Downie here. I have never felt sorrow before upon the passing of a public icon but with Gord I definitely felt as though I lost someone close to me. It hurt to hear the news of his death this morning. I have so many memories wrapped up in experiences experiencing the music of the Tragically Hip. It reminds me of lazy summer days at my godfather’s cottage on Stoney Lake in Ontario, biking from Ottawa to Meech lake to swim, coming of age and buying beer at the depanneur in Hull, crossing the country with my parents and bringing my own young family across this beautiful land. Not to mention, The Hip feature as the background music to my university career,athletic pursuits and travels. The lyrics Gord sang inspired my curiosity about the stories and figures that have shaped Canada. The live performances I attended were great Canadian sing alongs with an incredible feeling of connection to the band and the people around you in that moment. The Tragically Hip’s music spoke to me and Gord Downie inspired me recently to explore my own personal writing and to share and work harder toward a better, more equitable society. Listening to his weaving of words, sharing of ideas and embodying of history will continue to shape us.

I played his music today for my children and my students and I listened to Gord excerpts on the CBC driving to and from work. He spoke about honouring his art, his poetry as he produced it, and not tinkering to much, so that it embodied the thought and place and experience it was coming from. Honouring it’s raw beauty. It is beautiful.

I wrote a poem recently, that I finished last night. I was tinkering a little more after I took a picture of storm clouds contrasting a brightly sunlit park in the late evening yesterday as it was partially inspired by that time of day. As I went to drop my boys off at daycare this morning I was listening to Ahead by a Century and the sky was bright. I took a picture as I listened to Gord on the radio and this moment spoke to me and I felt like he said “you’re done” I feel now that this poem is done today, that it’s as good as it needs to be and that somehow he told me that and that somehow I can send him off. I am including my poem below to say Thank you, Gord.

Twilight

 

The last light is holding you in its palm

Casting shadows on the noise

Slowing for the lullaby so near

When the darkness redeploys

 

The silence of the still of night

Is something worth listening to

Embracing starry skies surround

Slowly it envelops you

 

With the starkly darkened landscape

Shimmering lights are there to see

If you move without a song

Will the silence set you free?

 

So carry on to the deeper calm

What are you searching for indeed?

They call forth and pull you north

What is it that you need?

 

Maybe just the moving forward

Looking back from whence you came

The dark and light contrasting

Will leave you not the same

 

One thing is sure uncertainty

As you wander paths alone

The iridescent solitude

Is not something to bemoan

 

So let the cloak embrace you

Before the bird song meets its death

The changing light upon you

Enjoy its dying breath

I have been wondering recently about how to connect students to the places (environments/communities) that surround them on an ongoing and purposeful basis. I have questions about what would be the most meaningful type(s) of connection to the places that shape the lives in a relatively small rural elementary school. I think it is important that students engage in outdoor experiential learning and I believe that these activities are accessible to our students through school district facilities and opportunities but I am hoping to see change from the one off experience to the ongoing experience of the natural world and community that supports us. I think these questions are both logistical and philosophical. How do we get beyond the playground? (We can’t just walk down the road here) What are the meaningful places to which we return, explore and connect with? And why?

As student lives and learning take shape in their classrooms, I believe this is the starting point. What are the students and teacher connected to? What are they inquiring about? What big questions are being wrestled with that could be supported by getting out into the world on an ongoing basis? And, what are the ongoing connections that could or should be built?

As I see students explore places on the school grounds, guided by their teachers, to raise their attention to the environment in which they live, I am compelled to ask: “How can I support the broadening and deepening of these learning opportunities?” My inclination and experience is that having the conversation pushes the door open and moves wondering to action.