A renowned wildlife photographer from Steinbach, known for his breathtaking images of nature, is sharing his poetic side with the public.
Dennis Fast has crafted three poignant poems that reflect his experiences and emotions. He shares the inspiration behind his work and the feelings these poems evoke.
The Inspiration Behind "The Fog"
Fast says this poem emerged during his time teaching creative writing at Frontier Collegiate in Cranberry Portage.
He says it captures the quiet beauty of fog, an element in nature that enhances the environment.
“With all my poetry...it almost always comes spontaneously.”
Fast says he aims to create vivid images with few words.
In "The Fog," he conveys a sense of tranquility and connection with nature.
“The fog...is this quiet, beautiful element in the environment that enhances everything it touches,” he explains.
This sentiment resonates with his work as a photographer, where he often seeks out foggy moments to capture the essence of wildlife.
Fast recently photographed bison at Riding Mountain in fog, further illustrating the beauty of wildlife in this atmospheric setting.
THE FOG
Whispering softly, the fog drifts through the trees
Like a lost soul in search of solace.
Peering through the leaves it seems intent on something I cannot see.
I wait for it to move and slowly it comes out of hiding and envelops me.
I feel it's presence and embrace it gently.
It speaks to me, but there is no sound -
Only the warmth of the gift we share:
Knowing we understand each other
Through the mist of our fears.
-Dennis Fast
"Remember": A Reflection on Life
Another significant poem by Fast is "Remember," written in the 1980s. He says it explores life through the lens of the seasons, evoking emotions tied to childhood, youth, and the passage of time.
“I just had this idea suddenly of talking about life in terms of the seasons...and how quickly it passes.”
In "Remember," he touches on relatable experiences, like the pain of childhood scrapes, and contrasts them with the joy of spring.
“You overcome (the challenges) and suddenly life is good again,” he notes.
Fast hopes his poetry inspires readers to appreciate the beauty that follows hardship.
REMEMBER
Remember when spring slipped through your fingers
And time stood still as crickets crushed under stones?
When puddles chilled toes to the brain
And tomorrow was today yet again?
Remember?
Remember, too, the endless play of summer
Filled with laughing eyes brimmed to tears
From bicycle slashes and seesaw bruises
That could only be healed by butterflies?
Remember?
Remember then the fall of childhood innocence
When the glow of yesterday
Shone into today like sunset refusing to dawn,
And the night would not go away?
Remember?
Remember the music and the dance of youth
Strident with the drifting notes of winter
When friendship and love were just an echo
From the dark side of summer?
Remember?
Remember, then, the everlasting rising of the sun
And springing water slipping from the grip of ice
To spread the buds of roses and green leaves
Far beyond the pale of every yesterday.
Remember?
Remember. . . .
Dennis Fast
June 5, 1986
The Last Leaf: A Poetic Visual Journey
The third poem, "The Last Leaf," was inspired by a magical foggy morning while Fast was living in Kleefeld.
He recalls venturing into the woods to photograph the ethereal scene. As he aimed his camera at a distant tree, a blackbird flew in just as he clicked the shutter.
“It was just a totally nice accent point,” he remembers.
This experience sparked the poem, which reflects on the inevitability of change and letting go.
His work has left a lasting impact on audiences, with many recalling the inspiration they found in his shows.
One audience member told him, “I should have been in church this morning, but I feel like I have been.”
Such reactions highlight the power of his storytelling through images and words.
Fast added carefully selected photographs to go with the poem. (See below)
The Last Leaf
Of a sudden comes the frost:
Leaf by leaf it paints the trees a gaudy hue,
And fills the woods with mellow silence
Till life itself seems fast asleep.
One by one the golden leaves
Drop softly to the earth below;
Only a few cling and tremble.
Then comes the northwind:
The spell is broken;
The gilded carpet thickens
As leaf upon leaf scurries to its rest.
But one, one last leaf holds on . . .
And then, one late October night,
The first snow falls:
This time there is no mistaking
The icy wind's intent.
With all its force and fury,
It races through the woods;
And with one sighing sob,
The last leaf shivers . . .
And is gone.
-Dennis Fast