IN MEMORIAM

By Thurlow Gowan

How beautiful is a rainbow
When the storm has just gone by!
Shining with all its colours
Across an evening sky.

Some say it’s just a reflection
Of water making bold.
Some say that down at its bottom
There’s hidden a pot of gold.

I saw a beautiful rainbow
Suddenly turn to gray.
It changed so quick and suddenly
To the path of life’s roadway!

Then it reappeared in its glory
with its bow above the plain
And a figure appeared on the upward slope
Riding his bike again.

Now each time I see a rainbow
Flashing against the sky
I know it’s given in memory of
My Little Friend’s Goodbye.

Copyright © 2006 Thurlow Gowan. Used with permission

Thurlow Gowan (1912 – 2012)

Thurlow Gowan was born in 1912 and was raised on a homestead in north-eastern Saskatchewan. Music featured heavily and he played banjo for years, later adding the saxophone to his repertoire. It was music that led to poetry and Thurlow has had many poems published through anthologies and in art projects. Thurlow was a teacher, principal, writer, musician and jurist. His support and work with MSA Poets Potpourri Society led to him being made a honourary member of PPS since 1993. Thurlow still attends most of the PPS open-mikes, readings and meetings. Thurlow is a gracious and talented reader with an amazing assortment of stories to tell.

During his childhood, Thurlow had an aunt with a piano and he and his cousins all played some kind of musical instrument. He played banjo with a group, the Dynamite 5 (later called the Dynamite Orchestra) throughout high school.

He taught in one-room schools in the Wadera School Unit after graduating from Teacher’s college.

After his marriage to Vivian in 1951, they moved to Flin Flon, Manitoba. Vivian opened a beauty salon and Thurlow took a position teaching in the Creighton School, where he would remain for twenty years. During that time he took up the saxophone and played with Harold Halldarson in their family orchestra, with even Audrey as vocalist.

Much of his poetry was written about the Flin Flon Lake district. “A Tribute to Friends ” and “Manistikwan “, are two examples.

In the seventies, Thurlow and Vivian moved to the Fraser Valley where he taught at King, North Poplar and Godson Schools. Retired now he and Vivian remain devoted to each other (2006 will be their 55th year together). Thurlow is in the process of publication of some of his work.

Thurlow Gowan died in October of 2012, one month before his 100th birthday.