Sunshine Village

Summer of '77 in Calgary
more specifically July
and it was time to groom the ski slopes at Sunshine

just a job tip from the Biology teacher
10/20 fruit flies and starch slides
drosophila melanogaster

and iodine
not coomassie blue

when there was no question of what to do
on account of the latest light dusting
or blizzard blow
fresh powder
or breakable crust
or straight up slush

there was just removing rocks
fine raking the the memory of corduroy
a grain that was in the landscape
the way the curl remains in maple even after planing and sanding

and the cat's paw leaves its prints on cherry

and the flame gives birch its sheen

and the bird's eyes stare back at you from yet another maple

and not the mark of the grooming machine
or the scrape of the cultivator

but that was only one Summer
and it was a long time ago
other Summers were equally physical
but involved a different kind of commerce
still special
getting to know people my age
unloading trucks and stocking shelves and such
when I didn't dream of 40 types of snow
but counted back change into waiting hands
responding to the request
from the lady who spoke in lisps and whispers
for Belmont Milds

or the man who scarcely spoke but routinely asked
for Borkum Riff Black Cavendish

or Amphora Black Whiskey in a pinch

as I packed a sack
and exchanged ordinary dimes and quarters
for pre '68 silver
or American

and bagged another Saturday.