The old Canada is changing very quickly. The interests displayed in the new Canada contain a considerable number of carry-overs, but there are also some stark changes.
The following ditty attempts to bring the sometimes co-operating and sometimes conflicting sentiments together in a cohesive whole.
Canadians love hockey,
you know that’s no lie,
still there are other icons
we’d never deny.
Polar bears and cod fish,
salmon, prairies and wheat;
toques perched jaunty on heads
as we trek snowy streets.
Rocky Mountains and Mounties
and myriad shiny allures
have summoned the world
to shelter on our shores.
We have a dollar that’s loonie,
and quarters backed by a moose,
so our gift to new arrivals
is a Canada goose.
Further scenes and images
serve to embellish
what each in our hearts,
eh, we’ve learned to relish.
Even our comedians
take detours to boast
of railroad dreams built
from coast to coast.
And the spray of the mist
at wondrous Niagara Falls,
plus ubiquitous beer and
Toronto pub crawls.
We hold dear our country
symbolized by the beaver,
save for those in Quebec
seeking mandate to leave her.
So not all’s perfection
in such a grand land.
For shame, flaws often lie
in the structures of man.
Corruption in government
high and low is endemic.
Commissions and inquiries
seem unable to stem it.
While a rash of such antics
may cause pain to see,
we manage to maintain
some petit bonhomie.
So hoist maple leaves,
everyone join the toast,
and sip a morning jolt
of Tim’s java roast.
None of the foregoing,
though, elicits the wows
hordes can experience
when they bargain and browse.
There’s a weekend activity
makes all else seem tame,
frenzied shopping in malls
is our national game.
****
Giving in to nostalgia is fine once in a while, but there can be serious repercussions if you Reminisce Once Too Often.
**
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2 responses so far ↓
1 Chris Nash // Oct 23, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Now I know it’s getting late in the year. I read this and couldn’t get “Twas the Night Before Christmas” out of my head. Blasted sugarplums!
Wry as ever, Alex – retweeted, dugg, stumbled.
2 alexcarrick // Oct 24, 2010 at 6:22 am
You know, Chris, I didn’t even realize I was doing that – using the same cadence as “The Night Before Christmas.” Very observant/intuitive of you.