Blog Intermission no. 4 (entr’acte) – A Vagabond’s Song

A Vagabond’s Song

There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood,
Touch of manner, hint of mood;
And my heart is like a rhyme,
With the yellow and the purple and the crimson keeping time.

The Pool, Tom Thomson, Canadian 1877-1917

The scarlet of the maples can shake me like a cry
Of bugles going by.
And my lonely spirit thrills
To see the frosty asters like a smoke upon the hills.

Autumn in the Northland, Franklin Carmichael, Canadian 1890-1945

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir;
We must rise and follow her,
When from every hill of flame
She calls and calls each vagabond by name.
– Bliss Carman, Canadian


Lounge Chair, Pierre Giroux, Canadian, contemporary

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Bliss Carman was Canadian. Born in New Brunswick in 1861, he died in 1929 and was at the time one of Canada’s most acclaimed poets. His poetry included vivid descriptions of Canada’s natural landscape. He was recognized as a regionalist poet from his home, the Canadian Maritimes. His poems on Canada’s natural areas, wilderness and the sea had a compelling atmosphere. In 1928, one year before his death, he was named poet laureate by the Canadian Parliament. We visited St. John, New Brunswick, last year but did not see much of the countryside. Instead I’ll post below a picture I took on a walk in the North Georgia Mountains last fall.



We visited Victoria, BC, Canada several times. The first time we were at a Bed and Breakfast close to Emily Carr’s house. We toured the house and, as I am known to do, researched her life and work. I purchased several of her books. She was a talented painter and writer (1871-1945.)

Emily Carr’s house in Victoria, BC, photo courtesy David Pickett

While I was studying Emily Carr’s work I found out that she was connected with the celebrated “Group of Seven.” I checked them out and fell in love with their style of painting. They were a group of seven Canadian landscape artists of the early twentieth century, influenced by European Impressionism. Painting no.2 and no.3 are from members of this Group of Seven.


I took the picture at the very top of this page in the gardens of the Georgia Governor’s mansion last fall.

Washington Square New York, Paul Cornoyer, American 1864-1923

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