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Ray Rasmussen

Festival of Memories

"The party's over, we had us a time. . .
We emptied the coffers of water and wine."
                               —Eliza Gilkyson, from "The Party's Over"

It’s my first time as a volunteer photographer at Canmore’s Mountain Folk Festival. I’ve been busy shooting musicians and singers, audience, street performers, stagehands, artisans, and the surrounding snow-capped mountains. Over the three days, I’ve gone from my usual photographer’s stance of just observing through my lens to becoming deeply immersed in the music.

The stage darkens after the last day’s finale, the dancing stops, the crowd cheers and applauds, and then melts into the night until the grounds are empty of all but the cleanup crew.

At a local hall, the performers play for a gathering of festival volunteers. The music and dancing reminds me of the ’60s and ’70s, wild and free, reminds me of my shyness.

memories—
all the dances
I didn't dance

Soon dawn will come in this northern Canadian town. The last dance finished at 4 a.m., and this party is over. I help clean up, then sit, cooling off, letting the quiet seep in, and the memories.

In no hurry to return to my motel room, I wander along a stream that winds through town in the early morning light, pause to photograph an early light reflection of garden flowers. I’m humming Eliza Gilkyson’s “The Party’s Over,” remembering her dreamy renderings, feeling the need to move to the slow, husky rhythms of her singing.

Is the party over for me? Are my coffers empty? Or is there still time to learn to dance?

clear waters—
singing in a
new day

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About the Author

Ray Rasmussen is retired and enjoys hiking, photography, and canoeing with his partner, Nancy. They reside in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. He previously served as editor in chief for Haibun Today. His haiku, haiga and haibun have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Ray’s haibun blog: https://rays-blog.ca/