Heart's Desire (Boxes)
"A car pulled up and a man got out,
said as he looked in the box.
"What's this for, and you're in my way,
can't you see I got to get to the docks."
His suit was fine and his car was sweet,
and pockets were filled with cash.
He looked so close at the bottom line,
with a wink and a blink and a dash.
He said, "Son, there's nothing left here, why don't you just move on,
south to the city of sin.
There's lights and cars,
sidewalks and bars,
a meat dress in a show called Skin."
I said, ''No thanks kind sir, if it's all the same - is that your suit or a silhouette?
My box is full, but not with fish,
rather tragedy, toil and sweat.
It’s been shipped here and over there,
it's even come back another colour.
So times ain't fair and east is west,
for father, son, and daughter."
This painting is the first of a trilogy relating to three unique communities on the Avalon Peninsula. Heart's Desire, Heart's Delight, and Heart's Content. We desire, we delight, and if we are lucky, we are content. Yet, how a community designation evolves is up for interpretation. Some say the names of fishing vessels were used to coin the Heart's trio. However, far and distant from the mainland, passions of the heart are not lost on the lonely soul pondering a return to shore, and his love, family, and community.
I once knew a woman that locked her doors for a while after learning of her husbands return from fishing shrimp off Greenland. "He's made me wait this long... so now he can wait a little longer too."
Boxes... they just contain so much.
Steven Rhude, Wolfville, NS
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