by Elizabeth Kerlikowske
Quiescent air supports incandescent globes
around Parliament, that halo skaters
on the Rideau Canal. Cold shrinks street lights
to star powers. Not just cold but Canadian cold
pulls high beams into eyeless needles
ices native eyes with rock salt--
citizens muted by wool, heads clasped
by toques, such red cheeks, so alive!
Dark exhilaration masses on the horizon,
snow fever and the low glow of an implied world
like this one but temperate.
Elizabeth Kerlikowske spent three winters in Ottawa, Ontario, and understands why the stop signs are so high tall.
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