Canadian Music

did I mention the northern lights
a walk along dolomite cliffs and
a Massasauga slinking sunrise

just when the refuse trucks begin
picking up on Queen Street
and Lake Ontario shimmers —

did I footnote tainted handguns
crawling into deep pockets
braying against a thousand pasts

like banshees of outdoor patios
and what you hear from someone
at the last spring wedding —

did I include a footnote for taxes
and insert a sip of cottage craft
beer as the sun slips out

and lands on treetops by the river
humming a native song
about native crafts and cigarettes —

did I do all that and retain
what Canada is — a community
of people milling around