Three Poems

Breathes a Spirit of Patriotism and Love of Country

I began on Cape Breton Island,
one spring, walking. The children there
had blackness in their eyes,
and held their blind hands out to me
for silver. I walked on.

In Gaspésie I did not understand the question.
The fishermen held out their empty baskets
and asked and asked.

In Kingston I visited the ladies.
Each asked the same question
about what I'd seen. It was something
about religion.

In Rat Portage the mosquitoes asked me for dinner
again and again and I sent them
to the nearest Ojibwa.
...