Four Leaf clovers lie in the open pages of a Canadian Battalion history from the Great War.

Four-Leaf Clover

A history of the Fourth Canadian Infantry Battalion lies opens to names of soldiers. Between the pages four leaf clovers lie. Who put them there. What was their meaning?
Between Rock and Russell – names marked Robertson, Robson, Ross,…clues to the clover? pp. 188-189.
R. Ferguson image, February 2021.

I Count the Petals

There is a book that I have, a history of the Fourth Canadian Infantry Battalion…I think about it often…not so much for the printed words but for something fragile within.

Acquired many years ago as a ready reference it was not until the later evening whilst sifting through its pages that a collection of four-leaf clovers revealed themselves…Here amongst someone’s book…someone’s time amongst the finery of life. Perhaps times shared with another in the meadow, small conversation at hand, the kindness of hopeful love, together with the gentle calm of each other. Surely a spring day…I count the petals again and again.

A green hard cover book with gold lettering lies upon a wood table., Records of the Fourth Canadian Infantry Battalion. Most probably once owned by a soldier of the battalion.
The Records of the Fourth Canadian Infantry Battalion. A home to names and clover…memories in distant fields.
R. Ferguson image, February 2021.

Some Nights Might Feel Cold and Dark

The day before Rosemary told me there is a song to hear, something important that would remind me of the things we will look back upon and smile. At the time I was hesitant in the moment…it’s something I must listen to…and still it’s the more to be done and the time apart to which I have become concerned and too focused upon. The night passes…the snow begins to melt…

It’s An Early Start

Chatter with Rosemary first thing in the morning…always good…I will enjoy today. After navigating the plowed lanes of snow-bound roads I patrol the aisles for foodstuffs. Having found the largest of Americanos I return to the car wondering will the one cleared parking spot be available to me when I return? It is meant to be carving my path into the clearing and after wrangling carrier bags laden with the day’s bounty into the pantry and cold storage…it comes.

Give it a chance…sit down and have a listen…Rosemary said I needed to hear this…and now several listens later…there is something I have heard…my four-leaf clovers…pennies though tarnished were once bright and shiny…the luck still remains…the hard roads are the ones worth choosing…starting over. And the marks in the book?…All soldier’s names of the 124th….all from 1916…names once known to one soldier…the reader of this book…the keeper of the petals. I count the petals again and again.

Starting Over, music and lyrics by Chris Stapleton. 2020.

Well the road rolls out like a welcome mat
To a better place than the one we’re at
And I ain’t got no kinda plan
But I’ve had all of this town I can stand
And I got friends out on the coast
We can jump in the water and see what floats
We’ve been saving for a rainy day
Let’s beat the storm and be on our way

It don’t matter to me
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
And, honey, for once in our life
Let’s take our chances and roll the dice
I can be your lucky penny
You can be my four-leaf clover
Starting over

This might not be an easy time
There’s rivers to cross and hills to climb
Some days we might fall apart
And some nights might feel cold and dark
When nobody wins afraid of losing
And the hard roads are the ones worth choosing
Some day we’ll look back and smile
And know it was worth every mile

It don’t matter to me
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
And, honey, for once in our life
Let’s take our chances and roll the dice
I can be your lucky penny
You can be my four-leaf clover
Starting over
Starting over

It don’t matter to me
Wherever we are is where I wanna be
And, honey, for once in our life
Let’s take our chances and roll the dice
I can be your lucky penny
You can be my four-leaf clover
Starting over
Starting over