The Journey to Kilbourne Lake

The Journey to Kilbourne Lake 

Tranquil Harbor and border crossings 

Travel to the commons, Doc and Mary’s garden

Packing 4Runners oh so tightly at Mallory Lake 

The smiles and greetings of five grandchildren and two cousins toward the three others that traveled far 

Lightening the day, and cooling the heat, and lessening the flies annoyances

Hiking and walking in to camp over the rocks through the Beaver Pond, dry this year,

4Runners rock and scrape and lift and go forward as the Jeep so many times and years before

The steady, creeping gears , trudging along, scraping skid plates to reach the camp

Siblings gather and embrace- being 20 years that they were all together at Venaterra and Kilbourne Lake

Snapshot from years ago, fishing pole and ax in hand 

Four friends knitted together, 

arm and arm, smiles ear to ear, and a love heart to heart

Decades ago, being the age of their children now

Running along the paths to the rocks toward Abby’s rock and Grandma‘s rock 

Fishing for perch and wading tirelessly for frogs near the cabin

The campfire smoke rises

Loons landing on the lake and greeting the morning and evening

Clouds drift overhead, then drift away, to the bluest skies

Kayaks dot the shimmering Lake 

Children’s voices echo along the beaten path 

The sound of wood being chopped and stacked

The washbasin clangs a familiar sound, and screen door sounds as dinner time nears

The fragrance of pine near the tent at the campsite near the lodge

A quiet surrounds us now

As the dark night nears, the full moon’s light towers high above the trees

Reflecting off the tin roof of the camp

And brightens the soul 

Sitting around the campfire, 

Some make their way to the swimming area of the lake 

Echoes of laughter, splashing, and sounds of joy and family 

Starry skies light up the night

Colorful hammocks, anticipating rest, swing to the sound of kayaks and row boats going across the lake 

Older kids, nestle young ones and care for and help the younger ones 

In every way helping and showing signs of affection and care 

Softening falls and leading along the way

As calm comes over the night and rest to our bodies. 

You remember Life has been good 

“Amazing journey filled with Promise,

 some conflict, Victory, and some disappointment, cherished, memorable moments, step-by-step promises fulfilled, Remarkable stories, and our story 

Each individual’s story has carried on to the next generation and to the next

As life continues on this journey 

The Journey to Kilbourne Lake Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem: The Journey to Kilbourne Lake is a poem about a recent family trip to the Boone family camp in Ontario Canada near Kilbourne Lake. This was the first time that our children Matthew, Jonathan, Rachel, and Emily were able to be together since 2005 along with their children. Their cousin Megan and her husband Ryan joined us as well with their two children.

Though the days were very warm and the nights as well, this year, most everyone enjoyed cooling off in the lake from which the sounds echo in my mind. 

Hearing the laughter, the fun, remembrance of years passed, dreaming about the future, children amazed with simplicity of land, sky, kayaks, boats and water-And especially each other!

Wealth consists of many things, many factors. The family surpasses them all and Time together where hearts yield, mend, and rise - is the sweetest of all gifts of God. - Joe Holuta