E. Pauline Johnson

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inE Pauline Johnson, VancouverTags:,

Beach

“Sounds of the seas grow fainter, 
Sounds of the sands have sped;
The sweep of gales,
The far white sails,
Are silent, spent and dead.”

E. Pauline Johnson

I make a pilgrimage every year in March, the month of her birth and death, to her resting place, protected by a secluded grove of cedars in her beloved Stanley Park overlooking the cold waters of English Bay.  It is late in the day; the boulder that marks her grave holds the last rays of the setting sun as I quietly retrace my steps to the living world.  Even so, I feel her continued presence.

 

Pauline Johnson

Sounds of the days of summer
Murmur and die away,
And distance hides
The long, low tides,
As night shuts out the day.

E. Pauline Johnson, Good-bye

 

This week, I want to explore the life and stories of Emily Pauline Johnson.  She was charismatic, beautiful, controversial, and adored by a nation.  In recent times, she has been discredited, even considered a fraud.  Rather than taking a critic’s view, I prefer to follow her narrative.   We have started at the end; it is time to travel to the beginning.

 

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

22 thoughts on “E. Pauline Johnson”

  2. Beautiful!! I love the words and the photo is gorgeous. I’ve never heard of E Pauline Johnson before but, judging by the lovely poetry, I would love to hear more. Time for some research, I think. Thank you, dear Rebecca. Sleep well. It’s 5am here and I’m having a sleepless night, so catching up with my old friends. Bless you.

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    1. Ah…the early morning is the very best time to watch the world wake up and catch up with old friends. So glad that you stopped by for a visit – you made my morning extra special. I think that you will enjoy E Pauline Johnson – she inspired people to think differently.

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    1. So glad that you have joined the dialogue. I agree, her poetry is lovely. During her day, she was a sensation, well-known beyond the borders of Canada. As for the fraud, that part of the story is yet to come.

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  9. Terrific dialogue. A fraud–I don’t believe it. It is interesting how many important people in history have been discredited. Oh, well, long live their contribution!

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