New poem: "That Je Ne Sais Quoi"

 

That Je Ne Sais Quoi

 

Looking down there, at the United States,

from way up here in Canada, now that President

Donald J. Trump, in a fit of spontaneous wit,

proposed that this vast expanse of our incomparable

nation become America’s 51^st State and our Prime

Minister their new Governor, I’m left to ponder,

would we ever fit? And from what I know about

the American people from everything I’ve learned

in seven decades of being an Italian-born Canadian,

I’d have to reply to the 47^th President of the United

States, for all of your genius, charm, and multi-faceted

character, on behalf of my entire race (though some,

not that many, would disagree), we may be courteous,

kind, and too agreeable; but whatever it is that makes

us proud Canadians and your people proud Americans,

we would never choose to become your 51^st State

for fear of losing that je ne sais quoi

that makes us Canadian.

 

Composed in Tiny Beaches,

Georgian Bay, Southcentral, Ontario

Monday, December 30, 2024