Distant Islands: Collected Haiku

By Steve K. Bertrand

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796018806

Steve K. Bertrand

For this pictorial history of Paine Field, Steve K. Bertrand has selected more than 200 images from the local community, historical societies, regional libraries, and state archives. He has traced the rich history of Paine Field from its earliest days to its present status as a bustling airport and commercial aviation center. These photographs provide a glimpse into the people and events that influenced this small community in the Pacific Northwest.

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Copyright © 2019 by Steve K. Bertrand.

Cover image is taken by the author.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-7960-1881-3

                eBook            978-1-7960-1880-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/14/2019

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For my grandchildren - Connor, Grace & Noah

Preface

The Distance Between

The sun rises over the Cascade Mountains.

We wait at the ferry terminal.

Gradually the sky grows lighter.

There are a few gray clouds.

A northwesterly breeze is blowing.

The water is choppy.

We sip coffee, listen to the mew of gulls,

contentedly gaze at distant islands.

Steve K. Bertrand

"Our knowledge is a little island

in a great ocean of nonknowledge."

Isaac Bashevis Singer

Distant islands,

so small, a wisp of fog blocks

them from view.

Speaking of connections –

I water my plants

& speak to them too.

Calm, gray sea,

but for

the loon’s ripples…

Emerging from fog,

747?

Nope – Great blue heron.

What would the

Salmon River be without

its salmon?

Above the mountains,

cumulonimbus clouds

building…

Visiting my daughter

& her family –

such joyous laughter!

Tell me –

What price can you put

on loving someone?

August morning –

I rise & say my prayers

to the dawn.

Winter –

clouds mute the full moon’s

glow.

Old man –

all afternoon to wait for his turn

in the barber’s chair.

3:00 p.m. –

neighbor girl skipping home

from school…

August morning –

sweeping bug

from the garage…

Upon the sea,

I let the sails

be my wind song.

Sunday morning –

sea lion patrols

the marina…

Above the ship’s mast,

gray gulls

circling…

Autumn –

through the Pioneer Cemetery

scampers gray squirrel…

Jogging past

the digital speed limit sign,

it flashes – SLOW DOWN.

Early morning –

horses in the pasture wearing

wool blankets.

She is at

her most radiant toiling

in the garden.

Driving through the

old neighborhood – black cat

in a window.

No temple

to pray in – beneath a maple tree

will do.

She moved

through life on short,

tentative steps.

Winter –

two crows on dead fir snag

discuss the weather…

Autumn –

more birds than leaves

on maple.

Early spring –

loon melts the pond’s ice

with his song.

That runner –

how he struggles against

himself.

The old man,

his dog –

a bit older.

Hiking this canyon –

Is that the wind,

or voice of the ancient ones?

Dead calm –

fishing trawler cuts

through the sea…

Arrival of the ferry –

cars & gulls

depart.

So much in life

depends upon –

light