Of Poets, Photographers and Summer in the Islands
by: Sherry L. B. Johnson
Summer on the water is a place and time to rejuvenate, recharge. Time for solitude and social, for active recreation, passive vegging out, exploring our own creativity and enjoying the creativity of others. I find so many interesting stories to tell, many of them not mine or at least not mine alone. There is great joy in the sharing of creating articles like this one with others. When Gretchen Huntley first told me of her poem “Silent Music” inspired by a Sam Battams’ photo I knew it was article material! I felt that across the years in the Islands, Agnes Maule Machar and JW King reached out to touch kindred spirits. When you have seen and read the work of the first pair, I’ll tell you about the other two.

Silent music
Describe a beautiful sound
That was the task today
I listened too many in my head
But much to my dismay
There wasn’t a single sound
That was beautiful to me
Too loud, too sharp, too bold, too soft
Though I listened endlessly
Daylight turned to darkness
There was no sound at all
And then I turned my eyes to heaven
It was then I heard the call
The voice was silent
Yet I could feel its gentle beat
As the stars blinked on and off
Oh the music was so sweet
Some stars twinkled brightly
While others just gently swayed
They showered me with comfort
As the silent music played
I watched the symphony
I couldn’t move at all
Was that how Cinderella felt
Longing for the ball
No I couldn’t be a part
But I could quietly stand by
Basking in the beauty
Of the symphony in the sky
I smiled contentedly
The silent music played on
My heart was overflowing
Any sadness was now gone
I sat down on the steps
I knew there would be more
Then a shooting star appeared
To make one last encore
She was the soloist
Her beam a brilliant light
Her beauty breathtaking
As she danced in sheer delight
Too soon her song had ended
The stars began to slip from view
The curtain began to descend
The stage became empty too
How can music be so beautiful
When not a single note was heard
How can I explain my feelings
When I just can’t find the words
I want so much for you to feel
What I felt tonight
It’s like allowing a blind person
To see this heavenly sight
Oh what a gift I was given
I will treasure it until I die
And perhaps someday I’ll be allowed
To play silent music in the sky
About the Poet, Gretchen Huntley
Gretchen Huntley is Gananoque’s designated Poet Laureate. In January 2025, she was awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal for her exceptional service to the community. Her poetry is enjoyed throughout the year as she celebrates various important holidays and happening. In 2020 Gretchen and Sam Battams published a popular book "Reality and Me".
About Photographer Sam Battams
In the 1980s, Sam Battams learned photography using 35mm photography, as film faded out, and digital photography took over, Sam waited until the image quality improved, and he could afford it. The passion, he admits is his desire to improve with every image. Several years ago Sam started selling his prints. They are now both meaningful and popular.
About the Poet Agnes Maule Machar (1837-1927)
A Canadian author, poet and environmentalist, Miss Machar was born in Kingston, Ontario. As an adult she continued to spend her winters there. Summers she spent in Gananoque at her property Ferncliff. There she hosted many notable artists, politicians and academics of the day. Miss Machar opened her property to the public to wander the trails and enjoy nature, with a stern warning “not to pick anything.” An 1873 sign on the property proclaimed it as the “Ferncliffe Protection Sanctuary” but to Gananoque residents it became known as Machar’s Woods.

Generations of town children have grown up playing in the forest. Many knew Miss Machar who gave talks at local schools. Miss Machar captured the Islands in words. Sometimes prose but mostly poetry like this.
~Drifting~
Why may we not drift forever?
Let all the world and its warfare go;
Let us float and drift with the flowing river,
Whither we neither care nor know!
Dreaming a dream - may we ne’er awaken!
There’s joy enough in this passive bliss,
The wrestling crowd and its cares forsaking,
Was ever Nivana more blessed than this?


A GanWalking rack card for Agnes Maule Machar Park, 9 Windsor Drive says:
“With the best and most photographed views of the Islands from the shore in Gananoque, Agnes Maule Machar Park aka Bluff Park is a must see location. Local photographers including several well known ones like J.W King have delighted in capturing the many moods of the islands through the seasons from here.”
About the Photographer J W King (1914-2003)
The J W King moved his family to Gananoque from Toronto in 1949 when he was transferred to the local Stelco plant as factory superintendent. Living in Gananoque he was quickly seduced by the charms of the Thousand Islands. Over the years he owned several boats – all wooden.
Photography was another of Jim’s passions, and like everything else in life, he set very high standards for himself. Over the years he won awards for his photographs, and “J W King photography collection” is still frequently seen on photos of Gananoque and the Islands. I, for one, am so grateful to have access to his photos!
And before I end, this article, it must be said, Jim was always very community-minded and didn’t hesitate to get involved with many local organizations. The James W. King water filtration plan is a lasting tribute to a man that gave so much to the community. His foresight in spearheading this upgrading the local water filtration system in 1994 may well have prevented tragedy from striking Gananoque as it did Walkerton soon after. We should all remember that when passing the building or seeing this wonderful mural about drinking water safety on the building:


[Header photograph by Sam Battams ©2025]
By Sherry LB Johnson with Gretchen Huntley
Sherry Johnson lives in Gananoque and is a writer and researcher for GanWalking, which is focused on heritage storytelling, research and building a strong accessible research, and genealogy community. Sherry has provided over half-dozen articles for TI Life. Each one provides a window of research on this small and proud Ontario town. In this article she explains what happens when suddenly something interesting falls into her lap. See all of Sherry's articles here.
Ti Life has been fortunate that Gretchen often shares her work with our readers. Gretchen Huntley 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. I hope you will join me in thanking this poet for her inspirational works.