Canadian

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.