joy in celebrating Canada on July 1st

A poem promised in the last blog post:

I am Canadian

When they yelled,
"You American!"
I said, "No!
I am Canadian."

When they sneered,
"African scum!"
I said "No!
I am Canadian."

When they asked,
"Do you feel Ugandan?"
I said, "No!
I am Canadian."

They accused,
"You're so different!
I said, "So?
I am Canadian."

I've traveled the world,
I met different people,
I tasted different food,
I witnessed different cultures,
I gazed on different skies,
I am a different person.

But in my heart,
I am still Canadian,
Canadian first,
Canadian last,
Canadian forever.

I am Canadian.