Northern Lights
-Josiah Vermont
Such a lovely wedding
Everyone had come from far
The bride and groom made their departure
before the arrival of the stars
I’d heard a loon call that morning
shortly after daybreak
but had prior obligations
Pulled out of Red Lake in haste
A spotted fawn in Kenora
skated through their downtown core
and I skirted Winnipeg
with my gear stick in fourth
kept on rolling towards Brandon
then curved North to Saskatoon
where a rising sun turned mid day
and replaced the harvest moon
The Battlefords confused me
but the river view was great
Would have paused to reflect
but had no time to hesitate
And that engine drum, so long..
Couple days now since I’m gone
‘Miss you’ texts gnawing at me
but hard to drive and respond
Lloydminster served great steak
Took a break over a beer
Unique border city
Neither here, neither there
Then on to Elk Island
(A sign said reserve game park)
Vermillion in the rear view and now
getting towards dark
and I just drove
1700 miles out here for you
I would do it again
if you asked me to
And you can’t say
I wouldn’t cross a million miles for you
Make some space in the driveway
I’ll be there soon
So I’d love to see the Rockies
but I’m getting low on funds
Save that view for my next journey
I miss you and the little ones
Pitting again in Lloydminster
More deer after Saskatoon
Inertly sitting here so long
..this car feels like a tomb..
An infinity of wheat fields
and the landscape feels the same
No Hilton’s out here for shelter
from torrential prairie rains
Waking up to blue skies
through my sunroof again
Oh yeah, I pulled off last night
from the Trans-Canadian
Pausing now for a hitchhiker
Says he’s thumbed across the plains
Picked Spartans in the Okanagan
Said Turtle Island was in his veins
Manitoba isn’t a memory
It was a space between two spots
Black Crow’s serious conversation
carried us to Kakabeka Falls
Thunderbay, Nipigon, Rossport, Marathon
Saw a black bear and two cubs
at a dumpster by Wawa
After the Sault, Espanola
Finally Sudbury
I should have slept at French River
Eyelids were dropping closed on me
Slid on down the 69
After Barrie, almost home
Head nodding, coffee breaking
Could use a shower and cologne
And I just drove
1700 miles back here for you
I’d do it all again
even if you never asked me to
And you can’t say I wouldn’t
cross this whole world for you
Make some space in the garage
I’ll be home soon
Josiah Vermont 