(for our Canadian friends)

•••

As the kids say,
it’s been a minute—

like two years
of minutes—

since we’ve found
ourselves in Victoria,

but we’ve once again left
behind the selves we know

to be wreathed in
Canadian kindness,

trading our dollars
for loonies,

our brownies
for Nanaimo bars,

and cheering on
Canadian athletes as

we watch the Olympics.
We are humbled by our

similarities with those
who, from a distance,

we might imagine as
different, but here,

surrounded by so much
that is greater than us,

reshaping us a tiny bit,
sanding us down with

the fine grit of joy—
this sweet city on this

long island extends
its arms, makes us feel

as if we’re coming home
again, which we have.