O Canada

And it's not so much that you've
noticed how you speak.
at times, you hear an a
come out of your mouth,
and it's high and flat, and
makes you miss
Manitoba.

But now, your students notice
it and ask
where did you come from?
when you tell them,
and the reasons:
school, 4th floor of Cook Hall,
drinking age, hockey
they say,
I thought so.
and you like this duality.
2 countries you can call home
and that way,
you'll never be quite alone.
all that land and you have
2 broad feet.

You drive.
each day, 2 hours
roundtrip.
so you call people,
people who have been on
your mind since New Year's
and you laugh and pretty
soon, you can't remember

If you passed
Beresford.
you never can remember if you've
slid under the overpass.
it is always a surprise to you when
you pass or do not pass
Beresford.

The radio is on and
loud constantly.
You have found a
station that plays
old Country, and
you know that this
is like quilts and farm dogs
and cricks.
you smile the whole stretch
of 1-90
when you hear,
Don't make me come over there
and love you.
because you will.
right now.

you took pictures,
curled up in the C
of big, red Canada.
and when you walked into
the bar, all your friends
said,
My God, do you have to look so
American?

And you say,
Probably.