Voice of Myra Canyon

You've called me "Myra" — once the name

McCulloch¹ gave to daughter cherished,

And to a station, sidings, yard

That once met trains, but now have vanished.

For once I was a proud hostess

To a railway

Through our tortuous land

Of azure lakes, green forests tall,

And buried wealth that lured you all.

With long debate and lurking doubt,

In nineteen ten, you despatched out

McCulloch's engineering host.

"From Coast to Kootenays" was your boast.

From Midway west, east from Penticton,
'Tween Kettle Valley and the Lake²,
'Cross massive ridge and on your maps drawn,
Strings of survey lines did snake.

And when my chasm you did see,
You pondered how to deal with me.
Some said, "Yes," while others, "No."
"Let's go around." "Let's build down low,
Through fair Kelowna's orchard land."
But bold McCulloch raised his hand.

He placed around my emerald nape

A necklace

Strung with iron rails,

And for its jewels he set aloft

What engineering skill entails:

Along firm roadbed, 'neath my edge —

Eighteen trestles, two of steel,

A pair of tunnels — seemed not real!

Through numerous years,

The trains came creeping,

With throttles low, and wheels shrieking,

Along my gaping, cavernous throat.

And from the heights, down through my moat,

I sent you streams, from melting snow,

That watered thirsty engines black

And homes and orchards far below.

But then, in time, the trains were gone

To gentler and less costly grade.

Said CPR, "Since there's no trade,

Remove the rails, uproot the ties,

And then we'll see what value lies."

But you did not much time need take,
For swiftly in the Railway's wake,
Because my marvels you'd beheld
Even 'fore the Railway's yen had failed,
You saved my trestles, smoothed my bed,
Drove vehicles, or walked instead
Around my lips.

And as your wonders did accrue,
You asked in awe,
"Is all this true?"

You organized your interest strong,
You blocked my roadbed at both ends,
So only stout pedestrians,
Or cyclists could my joys behold,
And save me damage, all foretold.

You planked my trestles, set guardrail,
Erected plaques, tamped down the trail,
You sang my praise in many lands,
And tourists came in growing bands.

And as my fame the world did stride,
You shared, with me, a burgeoning pride.
And high officials took my measure,
Proclaiming me historic treasure!

But then there came a fear-fraught season,
In that sad year, two thousand three.
Through rain-starved land (and for that reason)
A monster fire
Came raging free.

It came from far, near curve of Lake,
Left desolate park in its grim wake,
It torched fine homes,
Charred countless trees,
Cavorted devilishly in strong breeze,
And taking a gargantuan path,
It sent you fleeing from its wrath.

And when it played at half-asleep,
Up loftier slopes did boldly creep
Its right-hand claw.
It crossed the Kettle Valley line,
Climbed sister Bellevue's³ east incline,
Then, roaring down from high plateau,
Invaded me.

Brave fire crews cried, "How can we keep
This priceless treasure from the sweep
Of this consuming, hideous blaze?
For if we leave, 'twill surely raze,
From ancient creosoted heap."

But though they tried preventive art,
They finally said,
"We must depart!"
For my topography's too steep
For hose and manpower to leap.

For four long days,
I heard you sigh,
"Could her destruction now be nigh?"
Twelve wooden trestles turned to smoke
And wooden planking on the metal
Fell down to ash around my hem —
The flames, they were too much for then

And when the smoke at last did clear,
Stood four survivors, now held dear.

Now here I lie, though not alone,
My trees are scorched, most trestles gone.
But through the mists, I bid you cheer,
My dearest friends, for I'm still here!

My roadbed's good, foundations strong,
Four trestles live, should you take long
To reconstruct my cherished site?
For once you did, with bold foresight,
Create it.

If such is what you will to do,
With open arms, I'll welcome you!

Then you'll return from far mid near,
And my soul's secret clearly hear.
For it can never be confused
That in me both of these are fused:
Within one single, sweeping sight —
Great works of Man,
And Nature's might.

And from my depths, this would I say,

An affirmation like no other:

This truth — we have a common mother.

For we both do most clearly see
That Nature made both you and me.

¹Andrew McCulloch (1864-1945) was the Chief Engineer, later Superintendent, of the Kettle Valley Railway during its
most critical construction years. He is recognized as having been one of the most brilliant locating surveyors in the history
of Canadian railroading.

²The "Lake" in this poem refers to Okanagan Lake, not Hydraulic Lake, although Hydraulic Lake was a major objective of
Kettle Valley Railway surveys and construction.

³Bellevue Canyon lies to the southwest of Myra Canyon. Although a similar geological feature, it is smaller and less
spectacular.