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Ilona Beiks, editor . S S Gardens compel me. Inspire me. Affirm me. My passion for words and realizing all they can evoke began in my Mother's garden. When I was young, my Mother would bring me into the garden and read Latvian tales that personified flowers and plants. She never taught me Latin botanical names. Instead, she introduced me to their spirit. To this day, I talk to the nature spirits. And if I'm lucky, they talk to me, I hear them, and I tell their story. I don't remember where or when I heard this story for the first time. But it reminds me of being in the garden with my Mother and falling asleep to the stories my Father would weave at bedtime. One day, while his fire dimmed beautiful cheeked Around young woman entered and sparkling-eyed her forehead fragrant to embers, a Roselightly. in your frees the streams, mer. Wherever glow embraced silent lithely and they sing the songs of sumdances." to rise. A gentle fell away. the lodge. she stepped flowers. "Come was a wreath of sweet-grass, in! Tell me of deeds, each her hand a bouquet adventures. other." I walk, all of nature the place. The old man rejoiced. As they talked, the sun began His head dropped I will tell you of my wonderful The Spirit of Winter and the snow melted you will speak of yours, and we will amuse the Spirit of Winter," and the streams clear replied. meadows stone." "I am the Spirit of Spring, "the young "I breathe, and and flowers woods." said the old man. "I By the dying fire they told their stories. stand still. Waters become "I am The Spirit of Spring grew more radiant, to her feet. A robin began of opening flowers. murmured the fragrance dissolved the brown he melted at the door, and a gentle and sprang carried Spirit under breathe, hard as girl to sing, the stream breeze The lodge faded away. And the Winter into tiny streams forest leaves. departed, of water, vanishing spring up in the "I shake my locks," Maiden by the side with but the snow. It was the end of winter, and his he heard nothing new-fallen breath said the old man, "and snow land, Thus the Spirit of Winter away, children the Spirit of Spring. and where of covers the land, leaves fall from the trees, and my The Spring blows them away. Birds fly to a distant hide from the cold." said the maiden, "and carpets "I shake my ringlets," showers Flowers An old man was sitting alone in his lodge, of a frozen stream. fire was nearly out. His locks were whitened age. As each day passed, sound of the storm sweeping and animals gather the first blossoms And, for now, this is The End. And the beginning. I thank the North Shore Arts Commission for the privilige of working on this magazine and the opportunity to meet people who have graced my life and will forever continue to inspire me. of warm soft rain fall upon the earth. raise their heads, thick green grass My voice recalls the birds. My breath the ground. ON NORTH FREE KIDS CRAFTS SHORE Capilano Mall free kids crafts. Join us at Lewiscraft and create Capilano Mall and Lewiscraft are pleased to offer something special for M o t h e r ' s Day, F a t h e r ' s Day and C a n a d a D a y from 1 - 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 4th, 5th, 6th and Saturday, June 6th and 30th. 935 MARINE DRIVE NORTH VANCOUVER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL 980-8561 May | June