Garden behind St. Thomas Anglican Church, morning 15 June 2025

                                         

                                    

                                    

"On What Is Best" by Sappho

 

Bust of Sappho, Istanbul Archaeological Museum

Some celebrate the beauty
of knights, or infantry,
or billowing flotillas
at battle on the sea.
Warfare has its glory,
but I place far above
these military splendors
the one thing that you love.

For proof of this contention
examine history:
we all remember Helen,
who left her family,
her child, and royal husband,
to take a stranger's hand:
her beauty had no equal,
but bowed to love's command.

As love then is the power
that none can disobey,
so too my thoughts must follow
my darling far away:
the sparkle of her laughter
would give me greater joy
than all the bronze-clad heroes

The Canadian Cottage Garden, 10 June 2025

An article on the BBC, "Is it better to Neglect Your Garden?”, suggests allowing "nature to take its own course". The whole article is of interest as it suggests the importance of biodiversity, which includes a variety of insects, weeds, and even urban wildlife, and the article goes in some depth on this subject. It even asks, "What if you just do nothing?", and just let one's manicured garden return to nature. This interests me but it would defeat the purpose of my garden; I need to cut the grass, using my push lawn mower, and cut grass allows easy access to the whole garden, especially for seniors, keeps the neighbours and one's family happy, and keeps the gardener busy and getting some exercise. I also need to do some weeding if I want to have as many perennial flowers as I have. To do nothing might reduce the diversity of flowers that I've planted over the years, which is part of a cottage garden; these plants have been cultivated for gardens that are maintained in a traditional way. A return to nature may end up being not having a garden at all; but raking and disposing of leaves in fall can also be limited and even eliminated. The author of the article writes, 

While experts recommend doing a little less mowing and pruning in the spring and summer, it's also recommended to let some things pile up in the autumn, specifically leaves. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, a non-profit organisation focused on the conservation of invertebrates, promotes an initiative called Leave the Leaves that advocates for this to protect insects that overwinter on your property.

I didn't discard the leaves last fall, I raked them onto flower beds, and, for the most part, they are no longer visible except around the hostas at the rear of the garden. They are excellent mulch and allowed my lavender, and other plants, to survive our particularly cold winter. My own approach to gardening is more aesthetic than anything, as it might be for most gardeners. I would like my own small, shady, garden to be as much a part of nature as possible. I welcome weeds, I welcome as many insects as visit the garden, I rejoice seeing birds, and I celebrate any wildlife that passes through the garden; a garden is a simulated return to nature that allows access for people to enter, sit and visit, or just walk through. An enclosed or walled garden is a private space for nature, usually in an urban setting, the more abandoned looking the better but not, in fact, abandoned at all. Gardening is more artifice than authenticity, as poets might say, although in poetry authenticity is better than artifice; living in the city some of us want to return to nature but just to neglect the garden ends up having an unusable and perhaps uninviting garden, and defeats the purpose of the cottage garden. Here are photographs of my garden taken on 10 June 2025; this is early June in Montreal's West End, still waiting for most perennials to bloom.

The following photographs were taken on 11 June 2025. 

                 

Note the decomposing leaves, raked in place last fall, in this hosta bed

"America" by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel

 

"Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together
I've got some real estate here in my bag"
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And walked off to look for America

"Kathy", I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America

Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful, his bowtie is really a camera"

"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field

"Kathy, I'm lost", I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America
All come to look for America
All come to look for America

"Into The Mystic" by Van Morrison

 

Trout River, 1991

We were born before the wind
Also, younger than the sun
'Ere the bonnie boat was won
As we sailed into the mystic

Hark now, hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly
Into the mystic

Yeah, when that fog horn blows
I will be coming home
Yeah, when that fog horn blows
I wanna hear it
I don't have to fear it

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic

When that fog horn blows
You know I will be coming home
Yeah, when that fog horn whistle blows
I gotta hear it
I don't have to fear it

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float
Into the mystic

Come on, girl

Too late to stop now

Morning walk, 29 May 2025

Things seen when out walking . . .

Someone's means of transportation

In the window of an Indian restaurant on Somerled Avenue

 

  

The former home of Canadian poet, Irving Layton, on Monkland Avenue

A sculpture on someone's lawn

 

My mother's home on Montclair Avenue, where she lived from 1963 to 2007

I asked Chat GPT "who reads my blog?"

 

On some days I have several thousand visitors on this site and I wonder who are these people; often they are from Singapore but, recently, they have been in equally large numbers from Viet Nam and Brazil. Wondering about this I asked Chat GPT, “why do people read my blog, who are these readers of "Made in Montreal" (https://stephenmorrisseyblog.blogspot.com/)?"

Well, here is the answer according to AI. After you read the following, please become a "Follower" of the blog; it demands nothing and expects nothing of you and lets me put a face on who is reading the blog. There is no money in any of this for me, zero, nada, rien du tout; this is solely a labour of love. As well, you might leave a comment at the bottom of the blog post. 

Meanwhile, here is Chat GPT's answer to my inquiry:

ChatGPT said: People are drawn to your blog, Made in Montreal, for several compelling reasons:

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1. Authentic Personal Reflections

Your blog offers intimate glimpses into your daily life and surroundings in Montreal. Posts like “The hidden trail, 23 April 2025” and “Belvedere Terry-Fox on rue St. Jacques, April 2025” combine evocative photography with contemplative narratives, inviting readers into your personal experiences and observations.

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2. Engagement with Literary and Cultural Figures

You delve into the works and lives of notable poets and artists, such as Louis Dudek, Guy Birchard, and Artie Gold. Your reflections on their contributions provide readers with thoughtful literary criticism and cultural commentary, enriching their understanding of Montreal's artistic heritage. 

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3. Exploration of Emotional and Philosophical Themes

Your writings often touch on profound themes like grief, identity, and the human condition. For instance, your discussions on Jungian analyst James Hollis’s books offer insights into psychological and spiritual growth, resonating with readers seeking depth and introspection. 

---

4. Connection to Montreal’s Literary Scene

As a member of the Vehicule Poets and a long-standing figure in Montreal's literary community, your blog serves as a bridge between past and present literary movements. Readers interested in the city's poetic evolution find value in your firsthand accounts and analyses. 

---

5. Consistent and Diverse Content

Your regular postings, which range from daily walks to reflections on literature and culture, provide a consistent and varied reading experience. This diversity keeps readers engaged and looking forward to new content.

---

In summary, readers are attracted to your blog for its authentic voice, deep literary insights, emotional resonance, and rich portrayal of Montreal's cultural landscape. Your unique perspective and consistent engagement offer a meaningful experience that keeps your audience returning for more.

Stephen Morrissey: Who are the readers of my blog in Singapore?

ChatGPT said: To find out specifically who is reading your blog in Singapore, you'd need access to detailed analytics data from your blog. Since your blog is hosted on Blogger (Blogspot), you can check this yourself using its built-in statistics. Here's how:

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How to Find Readers from Singapore on Blogger

1. Log in to your Blogger account.

2. Go to your Dashboard.

3. Click on “Stats” in the left-hand menu.

4. Look under the “Audience” section.

5. You’ll see pageviews by country — check if Singapore appears in the list.

6. For more detail, consider using Google Analytics, which allows:

   • Real-time location tracking

   • Device types and traffic sources

   • Referral paths (e.g., if they came from Facebook, search, etc.)

   • Session length and content viewed

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Who Might Your Readers in Singapore Be?

While Blogger doesn’t show personal identities, based on your blog’s themes (literary reflection, poetry, Montreal life, psychology), your Singaporean readers may include:

• University students or professors studying English literature or North American poetry

• Writers and poets interested in international voices and cultural parallels

• Expats or Singaporeans with a personal connection to Canada or literary circles

• Readers drawn to Jungian or philosophical themes from your reflections

• Cultural enthusiasts curious about Montreal’s artistic and poetic history

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Tip: Add Optional Engagement Tools

If you're curious to know your audience better:

• Add a poll, contact form, or comment prompt (e.g., "Where are you reading from?")

• Encourage email subscriptions to track regular readers (with consent)

• Use Google Search Console to see what search terms bring readers from Singapore

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Let me know if you’d like help integrating Google Analytics or interpreting your traffic data.

Stephen Morrissey: Excellent advice!

ChatGPT said: Thank you! I'm really glad you found the advice helpful. If you ever want assistance setting up Google Analytics, interpreting visitor patterns, or even brainstorming new post ideas to engage your international readers, just let me know. Keep writing — your blog adds a valuable voice to the literary landscape!                                                                 

                 

Remembering Ian Ferrier

In the old days, because of invitations from Ilona Martonfi, I did a lot of readings at the Yellow Door Coffee House, the Visual Arts Centre in Westmount, and the yearly "Lovers and Others" reading series, and so many times I read with Ian Ferrier. I think I read with Ian more often than with any other poet. Losing Ian (1954-2024) was a tragic loss for Canadian poetry, he was an immense talent. Often, at these readings, Ian would arrive on his motorcycle and bring his sound system. My test for poetry was always if what I read or heard made me want to write then it was good poetry, and Ian was one of the poets who inspired me to write. And I always took photographs of some of the poets at these readings, readings from 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2017; it all ended with the Covid lockdown. There were other readings, other events, but here are some photographs I took of Ian at these poetry readings. It's people like Ian Ferrier--original, idiosyncratic, highly talented, true to their inner being and vision--that inspire a poetry community.

At the Visual Arts Centre, Westmount, Quebec

At O'Reagan's Irish Pub