Canada Day
Canada Day is little
ugly maple leaf faces
hanging over cotton candy hands,
grubby sandaled feet
and asphalt hearts.
Canada Day is three days
before the really good fireworks.
Canada Day is an ethnic
parade:
white people looking at cars
full of those other people
who “live such different lives”.
Canada Day is Francophone’s soaking fries in vinegar
and Anglo’s thinking they might try that
if they ever run outta ketchup.
Canada Day is walking to Tim Horton’s with your iPod
and skipping all the Rush and Tragically Hip tracks
because they’re too Canadian.
Canada Day is wishing
they blared
Leonard Cohen’s “The Future” from floats
and not Puddle of Mudd.
Canada Day is REPENT!
REPENT! REPENT!
Canada
Day is sitting in your favorite dimly lit pub
and seeing what mysteries, what lunatics,
what lemmings wanna talk to you.
Canadian flag like a poncho
and telling those who will listen
that
Canada Day is yelling
“I’m drunk!” at
and throwing up Mr. Noodles
all over your roommate’s bed
by
Canada Day is ripping up your business card
because it’s your day off,
but knowing you have
five hundred more prints.
Canada Day is a poor day
for a wedding.
Canada Day is CBC
interviewing Canadians
about
something about pride.
Canada Day is flying to
especially for
only to find out they don’t do that shit.
and being okay.
Canada
Day is killing your little brother in badminton
and insisting he did real well
for a pussy.
Canada Day is Iced
Cappuccinos for the whole family
and Timbits for grampy ‘cause he loves them
but hates his relatives and life expectancy.
with endless butter and a constipated
pepper shaker.
Canada Day is forgetting
to look up during the fireworks.
Canada Day is getting stung 12 millions times in
Canada Day is discussing all the places they don’t have
donair sauce.
Canada Day is wondering how a place called
Canada Day is gonna be different when
in