Being Canadian means smiling at a stranger
when it is minus twenty-two
and this common experience
connects me to you.
Being Canadian means loving our land,
Enjoying the mountains, prairies and sand,
Laughing with the geese as they fly away
The winters’ snow and gusts we will withstand.
Being Canadian means watching from the sideline
as our big sibling makes choices
and we can only shake our heads
and raise our silent voices
We wait and see what will come to be
and hope we don’t make the same mistakes
We hope that we can stay afloat
that we don’t drown in their wakes.
Being Canadian means clinging to our own,
and watching as ownership slides through our fingers
to another American company
And only historical pride lingers.
Being Canadian means listening to the CBC
allowing them to normalize differences
giving voice to the minorities
challenging our inferences.
When others are different,
we stick up for them
We’re united in our uniqueness
Those who are rare, are our gem.
Being Canadian means I am sorry,
for the hurt and pain on this earth,
I take responsibility
Though I can to little to help of worth.
Being Canadian means feeling small
Though grand in size our numbers are few
Like a little sister we tag along
trying to be liked while to ourselves staying true
Being Canadian means knowing who we are not
before knowing who we are.
Being Canadian is always changing
Looking behind to see we’ve come far.
Being Canadian means I must end by saying
That this is what being Canadian means to me.
But out there, I’m sure, are 36 million ways to be.
Each one is right and each one is free.
