Today (July 1st) is Canada Day! A Happy 149th Birthday to Canada, the country I love. As you can imagine, the birthday celebrations this year will be eclipsed by celebrations next year when Canada turns 150. (Our poetry society is planning to publish a book of poetry to commemorate the event. Our members are busy writing about Canada. That bit of writing is also on my to-do list.)
Today, a poem about one of my favorite places in Canada to visit. Though it’s just a 90-minute ferry ride away, Vancouver Island is a special place full of memories of the wonderful times we’ve spent there. The accompanying slide show lets you see just a few of its features. Of course the best part of any place we visit is the friends we have there.
Vancouver Island
Ninety-minute crossing meanders between Gulf Islands
from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay
slows us down to island speed
Drive roadways lined with rocky outcrops and arbutus trees
that shed their trunks in curling rusty flakes
Shiver in bone-cold Port Hardy fog
Breathe air that feels thick as a milkshake.
Watch whales breach, sea lions sunbathe
on a brilliant Telegraph Cove morning
Spend a day wandering Chemainus
camera in hand gathering murals
Gawk at Buddha statues and goats
on the roof of the Coombs market
Stroll past Victoria’s Parliament Buildings outlined in lights
to the skirl of the bagpipes of buskers
Talk with my friend till late
Wood fire embers snap a sleepy goodnight
as I head to the guest room
© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)
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This post is linked to Poetry Friday, hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference.
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
Carol-Ann Hoyte
June 30, 2016 at 8:38 pm
Happy Canada Day, Violet from Carol-Ann Hoyte in Montreal!
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Violet Nesdoly
July 1, 2016 at 8:44 pm
Thank you, Carol-Ann. I’m curious… how did you celebrate the day? (We went to the festivities at Fort Langley – which is the actual birthplace and first capital of B.C.)
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Tabatha
July 1, 2016 at 7:06 am
I was on holiday in Canada during Canada Day once and had a ball. Sounds like I should be making plans to come next year! “Air that feels thick as a milkshake” — nice positive spin, Violet! I will try to remember “milkshake” the next time I’m in weather like that.
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Violet Nesdoly
July 1, 2016 at 8:07 am
Thanks, Tabatha! And yes, you must come to celebrate the big milestone with us next year!
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Linda Baie
July 1, 2016 at 9:08 am
Happy Canada Day, Violet. The coming book of poetry to commemorate Canada is a lovely goal. I’ve been to Vancouver Island once long ago, and still remember the guest house, a new thing for me as a teen. It is beautiful there and you are lucky to be able to travel there so often.
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Violet Nesdoly
July 1, 2016 at 8:45 pm
Thank you, Linda! I realize it’s also a special long weekend for our U.S. neighbors. Happy Fourth of July (Independence Day)!
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Heidi Mordhorst
July 2, 2016 at 5:47 am
How exciting for you Canadians! Also planning to commemorate 150 with you next year…and who knows, maybe my daughter will end up at McGill! My favorite image is of the arbutus tree.
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Violet Nesdoly
July 2, 2016 at 7:27 am
Thanks, Heidi! I’m sure we’ll be having some wonderful Canada parties in 2017! Would love it if you celebrated with us. It’s interesting that your daughter is choosing McGill.
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haitiruth
July 2, 2016 at 10:58 am
Lovely! Hope you enjoyed your Canada Day celebrations!
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Donna Smith
July 2, 2016 at 4:37 pm
I love “slows us down to island speed”. Everyone needs that.
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Brenda Davis Harsham
July 2, 2016 at 6:28 pm
What a wonderful post. Happy Canada Day. I think a book to celebrate Canada is a great idea. I remember visiting an amethyst mine near the Great Lakes in Canada. I should write a poem about it someday.
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Robyn Hood Black
July 2, 2016 at 7:41 pm
Hope you’ve enjoyed a celebratory weekend, Violet! Your corner of the world looks so gorgeous – I’ve just seen pictures, and yours here are beautiful. Checking off all the things in your poem would definitely make for a satisfying adventure.
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Sally Murphy
July 3, 2016 at 5:39 am
Happy Canada Day! Your poem makes me want to visit 🙂
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Bridget Magee
July 4, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Happy (belated) Canada Day, Violet! I just got back (last week) from my first ever trip to Canada! My husband and I spent our 27th Anniversary in Victoria, BC – glorious! As is your poem – “Victoria’s Parliament Buildings outlined in lights” – we saw these from our condo! =)
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Violet Nesdoly
July 4, 2016 at 8:02 pm
How lovely, Bridget! Victoria is a very beautiful and romantic place for an occasion like an anniversary. So pleased you liked it.
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maryleehahn
July 4, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Happy Canada Day! Between the slideshow and your poem, I’m itching to visit Vancouver Island!
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