Welcome to the Poetry Corner!

In collaboration with Aramark, we have created this space for poetry contributions. Submissions by all employees are welcome.

This month, we received two poetry contributions. The first one is called In a Summer Sky A Blue Jay Came, written by Michael Angelo B. Quiano, Operations Associate Manager, Aramark at Bethany CollegeSide.

In Summer Sky A Blue Jay Came – June 2022

Beyond the horizon of sunshine blue,
Morning awakens to something new.
While the sky glares its clearest view,
My thoughts of summer are always true.

Beyond the clouds; I look,
As I wash my feet on flowing brook
Uttering, I whispered your name,
In summer sky-a Blue Jay came.

In the air I hear her tweet,
A morning whistles, so gentle and sweet,
She flies over me and watches over me,
All in view of summer scenery.

She follows me wherever I go,
On a river as I float and row,
The bird hushes her singing,
Joyfully, my heart beats and smiling,

She chirps while I hike,
She glides while I bike,
Up to the mountains,
Down to the fountains.

I sat in the park,
She pecked on a bark,
She hums in music,
While dine in a picnic.

On a tiring day, she rested on the tree,
While I nap in a cozy tepee,
As the moonshines, and stars twinkling,
My graceful Jay is soundly sleeping,

Summer will cool away,
Other seasons will never stay,
But my pretty Jay will remain with me
No matter what, the day would be.

-Michael Angelo B. Quiano

The second poem is called Hope, written by Janie Rushton, Spiritual Care Practitioner, from Bethany Calgary.

Hope

What is hope?
Maybe it’s inside me, being ever optimistic.
Or desires for a certain something,
Meeting goals by my own gumption.
Or living out a passion, hunger for expression
Through my own creative action.
Or trust in God to give what’s needed,
My prayers in grace and mercy heeded.
Or in being there for others and accepting help from sisters/brothers.
All this is hope.

Which kind of hope is mine?
Good news – I don’t have to choose.
For they all belong to me.
Yet deep inside I wonder
When no replacements for my lost hopes can be found
Will I be resilient, or despairing?
Or just too stubborn to give up? (For that too, is hope)

Pain eroded the strength I thought I had,
But then along came my friend
Who loaned me some, and then, inspired, my own rebounded.
Hope transferred.

I cried out to my God,
And He lifted me up and renewed my strength.
I will not grow weary.
Hope assured.

I sought my strengths
And tended them like energetic seedlings.
Wrote new chapters of my life in joyful colours.
Sought hope’s reflection in my daily missions.
Hope fostered.

May I be like the seed that bursts when watered,
And breaks new ground and grows towards the light.
And waits with patience through the night
For each new day to dawn.
Hope embraced.

Hope’s tiny blossoms furled and yet unseen… AWAKEN!
For it is spring and the season of hope.

– Janie Rushton