August Poetry by Gretchen Huntley

Island Time

I stand looking down at the River
My heart, my body, my mind
Celebrates every single moment
That I am here on island time

The sun seems to shine much brighter
There is nothing like river air
It is a very special medicine
With loved ones I happily share

My boat glides across the water
Perhaps I’ll fish for a while
Then take a swim in the river
My day will end with a smile

Yes, I am on island time
It is the best time of the year
It feels like a different world
One that I hold dear

I will have to leave when fall rolls around
To put my boat away
And close up the cottage for another year
It’s always a very sad day

I will look forward to spring
Then summer is just around the bend
And oh I’ll be so happy when it will be
Island time once again

Poem by Gretchen Huntley
Photo by Sandy Buerkle.

The Ghost of Howe Island

Beware of the man
Lurking quietly there
He haunts the island
Life’s not been fair

He hides away waiting
He has a purpose in mind
He’s looking for his head
He wanders blind

He waits quietly for you
Hidden amongst the trees
You’ll never see his features
He’s cautious as can be

If you pay attention
You’ll see his legs and feet
But all the rest is hidden
He will never be complete

You see he was killed
There on that very same spot
When a hunter saw movement
In a moment he’d been shot

He will haunt the woods forever
Looking for his head
The ghost of Howe Island
Will never be dead

Is this fact or fiction
I don’t honestly know
But look carefully at the image
And what does it show

I see a pair of legs
With pants of tan
And work boots on
Half of a man

So my question to you
“Is there anyone there?”
Decide for yourself
But I caution, “Beware!”

Poem by Gretchen Huntley
Photo by Sam Battams

I Can Hardly Wait

I am a senior citizen
What a nice way to say
I’m old and I’m tired
And at the end of the day

I can hardly wait for nighttime
When I can crawl into my bed
Curl up with my heating pad
My body feels like lead

I drift off to sleep
Happy as can be
Then what happens next
I have to get up and pee

I jump out of bed
The bathroom is calling
Trying not to rush
I’m afraid of falling

I get to the toilet
But not quite on time
I feel the warm trickle
It doesn’t feel fine

I finally make it back to bed
But now I cannot sleep
If my memory still was good
I would try counting sheep

I might as well get up again
My stomach’s telling me
It is time for a midnight snack
Even though it’s half past three

I kick back in my recliner
My wet PJ’s on the floor
The next thing I know
There’s a knocking at my door

By now it is morning
I’ve slept for an hour or two
I peek out my window, naked
Not quite sure what to do

By Gretchen Huntley, Poet Laureate
Town of Gananoque

TI Life has been fortunate that Gretchen Huntley often shares her work with our readers. Gretchen was appointed Poet Laureate for the Town of Gananoque in March 2021. In October 2024, Gretchen wrote "Tributes by Gananoque's Poet Laureate" for TI Life, and we have reviewed two small books that Gretchen recently published: "Reality and Me" by editor, Susan Smith in November, 2020 and "Poetry Through a Lens" by John Swift in June 2021. Both books featured photography by Sam Battams. If you are fortunate to meet Gretchen in Gananoque one day, I hope you will join me in thanking her for sharing her work (especially the last poem, as it apply describes this editor who is getting way up there in age!)