In Memoriam: Donna Doyle

When I started blogging two years ago, I found a warm and welcoming community, and quickly discovered that the real pleasure of being a book blogger is the communication with those newfound friends from far and wide. Donna Doyle (The Between-Place) became one of those special friends. It was Donna's adventuresome spirit, her intelligence, and her beautiful poetry that drew me to her. Yesterday, Donna lost her battle with cancer, and the world (and the book blogging community) lost a beautiful spirit.

To her family and friends, I send my heartfelt condolences. To Donna...I will miss you, Friend.


FLYING

There are many places across this land
where my soul takes wing,
lifted above the mundane worries
that fill my days

I have looked down from the sky to see
puddles of farmyards
amongst squares of green and gold

barns and houses huddled together
as though protecting each other
from cloud-shadows that converge
and engulf

and rivers,
like sparkling ribbons
fallen loosely
across the prairie's fabric

I have gazed across northern lakes
in the early morning mist
and listened to mated loons
as they dive, surface, and call to each other

...dive, surface, call
......dive, surface, call
.........dive, surface, call

reassuring each other
of their continued presence,
and the forest looks on,
deeply satisfied.

And I have returned to my roots
where the geography is about
the people...
the faces and the voices
that have offered me these wings.

Soon I will go again
to follow the call of the sea,
the call that pulls me
ever forward.

Donna L. Doyle 04 Aug 08