(for Louise and Bill Johnson, our friends
on the 50th parallel in Campbell River, BC)

•••

If we ever doubted that we are one world,
that we share so much, come stand

at, say, the 50th parallel, the circle
of latitude that sits 50 degrees north

of the Earth’s equatorial plane. Here,
on an island in western Canada,

in a town touted as the salmon capital
of the world—where the sun is visible

for 16 hours and 22 minutes on the
summer solstice, and for eight hours,

four minutes on the winter solstice—
we reach across the planet to hold

hands with those in Mainz, Germany,
in Wallonia, Belgium, in Upper

Normandy, France, in parts of Prague
in the Czech Republic. We extend

our hearts to those in places of
deep conflict: in Kharkiv, Ukraine,

and so many parts of Russia.
In Mongolia and Khazakhstan,

circumnavigating the globe and
oceans both Pacific and Atlantic

to this place—Campbell River,
British Columbia, on the strait of

Georgia, where salmon far
outnumber people. We stand,

arms outstretched across Canada
to places with the most lyrical

names: Medicine Hat, Alberta,
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,

to regions with canine names:
Newfoundland, Labrador,

even to the Lizard Peninsula
in Cornwall, England.

These bright places hold so much sun
that boldly outshines the dark times,

reminds us that we reflect the light
of the world, us reaching for you

across this imaginary line circling
the globe, your hands extended to us,

even when we can’t see each other.