Title:
Sunshine Laughing – the poetry of Anna-Marie Fuller
Author:
Anna-Marie Fuller
Genre:
Poetry
Book Blurb:
I met Anna-Marie in December of 1980. Our initial conversations revealed her to be a deep thinker. For her degrees in education (she graduated with two), Anna-Marie took numerous philosophy courses, at which she excelled. Her skill at poetry reflected her superior intelligence and depth of understanding of many difficult subjects which she chose to embrace.
Anna-Marie was multi-talented, and that’s an understatement. Her poetry reflects this. However, she was not arrogant or high-minded–quite the opposite. Anna-Marie had a passion for people and especially as a teacher, for her students. Indeed, at the age of 12 years, she chose to pursue the profession because of a bad teacher she had that year, and she didn’t want other students to suffer the same experience. If you were fortunate enough to be in Mrs. Fuller’s elementary school class, it would be a seminal event that would change your life. I know because I lost count of the students and their parents who confessed as much. I can also add my voice to theirs because I had the distinct privilege of being married to Anna-Marie for 39 years, and she changed me in ways I can’t even begin to describe. Without her influence in my life, I would be a much different person today. A much lesser person.
Anna-Marie’s poetry reflects her compassion and understanding of the human condition. And nestled in among all the deep thinking, there are some fun little gems that show Anna-Marie had a lighter side–a playful side that rounded her out and made her all too human.
Excerpt:
the mask of death
death, the unknown stranger
the uninvited guest
the fear of the fall
greater than the fall itself
the interview, the audition
the waiting, so awkward,
so out of place
yet as the end comes
you realize its harmlessness,
the useless worrying,
and the agonizing pre-conceptions
unjustified
and when you’re young
you live forever
and your strength never fails
but as you grow old
you begin to say,
“it will happen to them not me”
and later, as you grow older still
the illusion of death seeps in
deeper, and buries itself inside you.
and when you do go to sleep
at night, you begin to wonder
if you will waken in the morning
and as the morning sun rises
each day
you quickly sink back into life
or is it really closer to death,
just as you are told something
it is at that moment that you begin
to forget it
so linked is life and death
yet, you hurriedly brush the
thoughts away and say “i am in control”
and with certainty begin playing
the roles assigned for today
knowing well, what is formal
and proper, and what is done in
such cases,
while deception and reality
become one in the same for you,
as life slowly draws you further
from yourself and deadens your emotions,
you lose your sense of touch,
yet your mask remains intact
and yet, what is life?
to merely exist, to maintain; surely not
to change, to discover, to search, to realize
that is life
and yes death is perceived as
darkness
and yet it is only the certainty of day
that allows us to be content with night
and in a sense death does not take
away life, but instead it takes away
the falsehood of life;
the evil deceptions strangling the soul
perhaps death is the illumination
of life
one inseparable from the other,
death is a realization of life.
yet death is indeed sad
in its own way
it leaves us to grieve over those who are gone
and the loneliness of life’s mistakes
are like “dirty” dishes in the sink
left to pile up so high, that it is
impossible to ignore them any longer,
when the probability of getting them
“clean” seems like a hopeless task.
it is at this point that the mask
of life
begins to decay and is eventually
destroyed, revealing only an ugly face
from which man desperately tries to
turn away from, but finds he cannot
and he finds that death is itself
a “dead-line”
one that forces us to do something
we are afraid to do, to see the dirt
road we have been travelling on,
the flying stones, and the hidden
rut of life,
to see beyond our deceptions,
half truths and false-faces
and critically search within
and re-evaluate ourselves
to see ourselves and others as
they really are
and it is through this that another
mask is melted and destroyed;
the mask of death
and through its destruction
man realizes hope, and begins to understand
that as you end you also begin
and in the end you realize
that death’s agonies
were not so much the fear of death
but the fear of a false life.
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What's Your Favorite Thing About Autumn –
I would have to say that my favorite thing about Autumn is that my wife and I met in the Autumn. That started a 43-year marriage that only ended when she lost a three year battle with cancer. So for me, autumn is bittersweet.
What Inspired You To Write This Story?
This book is a compilation of poems and artwork by my late wife, Anna-Marie Fuller. I compiled her poems and artwork and published them as a tribute to her.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs September 1 – 30, 2024
Drawing will be held on October 1, 2024.
Author Biography:
Information on the Brock University scholarship established in Anna-Marie’s name –
ANNA-MARIE DOEDE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Anna-Maire Fuller (nee Doede) was a native of St. Catharine’s, Ontario. As she grew up in the community, Anna-Marie was active in numerous sports, especially during her years at school. While she was involved in many sports, Anna-Marie excelled at cross country running. She received many accolades, including in 1969, a recognition award as provincial champion in track and field.
At an early age, Anna-Marie decided to make education her career. She chose to attend Brock University, where she pursued a Bachelor of Education degree as well as a Bachelor of Physical Education degree. Anna-Marie spoke fondly of her days attending Brock University, and upon graduation she continued to support the university by being active with the alumni association.
In 1980, Anna-Marie moved to Alberta to become an elementary school Phys-ed teacher. She had already been teaching in Ontario, but opportunities were scarce, so she headed west. Anna-Marie taught for almost 50 years, during which time she influenced countless student’s lives. Many would write and visit her years after they had attended her class, informing her how she had changed their lives in so many positive ways.
On January 19th of 2023, Anna-Marie lost a three-year battle with cancer. Because of her tremendous influence on so many students’ lives while she was alive, her husband Peter thought of this scholarship as a way for Anna-Marie to continue having a positive influence on students even though she’s gone. He requested it be named in Anna-Marie’s maiden name, since they were not yet married while she attended Brock University. This scholarship will be awarded to students who are enrolled in the same Physical education course that Anna-Marie graduated from, who are struggling to pay their tuition. The funds disbursed will be applied directly to the student’s tuition.
This scholarship is permanent. However, Brock University requires that $25,000 be raised over a five-year period. Even though his only income right now is pension, Anna-Marie’s husband Peter has committed to providing at least $6,000 to this scholarship within that timeframe. He’s counting on Anna-Marie’s friends, family and colleagues to help him raise the remaining amount.
If you would like to contribute to Anna-Marie’s scholarship fund, you can donate online by following this link – www.brocku.ca/donate
- Complete the form with your information.
- When asked, “Please select the designation of your gift,” select, “Other.”
- Write in “Anna-Marie Doede Bursary,” to ensure funds go directly to the bursary in memory of Anna-Marie.
Once you’ve completed the form, a charitable tax receipt will be sent to you via your email.
For further assistance, please contact Amelia Canto, Major Gift Officer, Development and Alumni Relations.
You can email her at: acanto@brocku.ca or call her (905) 688-5550 ext.4614.
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