Cheers Canada 150 + Comments
Let us all join hands
In celebration
Confederation
...
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personally, though it seems you got a lot of positive feedback in comments below, i do not care for the poem. and it ain't just because i'm better than you are, since..............i am an American! ! ! hee-hee (in case you thought the better...American part was serious. but i seriously did not like the poem. to ME it was..................hmm? just not up to snuff as far as i am concerned. and part of the lack of 'snuffness' is that (to Me) it is not terribly clear in some parts what you mean to say. some of the meaning i think i figure out because of things i've read/heard of the past of my country. ========================================= ok. Let the circle be broken. i Googled to find the 'common definition'/meaning of this idiom. i may still find it, but while searching for it, i ran across this. [so, be careful who is listening when you talk about breaking a circle! ]: ==================================== ===================================== ok, I AM STARTING OVER..............again! this part is pasted from Microsoft Word: personally, though it seems you got a lot of positive feedback in comments below, i do not care for the poem. and it ain't JUST because i'm better than you are because..............i am an American! ! ! [hee-hee, in case you thought the better...American part was serious] but i seriously did not like the poem. to ME it was..................hmm? just not up to snuff as far as i am concerned. and part of the lack of 'snuffness' is that (to Me) it is not terribly clear in some parts what you mean to say. some of the meaning i think I’ve figured out because of things i've read/heard of the past of my country. ========================================= ok. Let the circle be broken. i Googled to find the 'common definition'/meaning of this idiom. i may still find it, but while searching for it, i ran across this. [so, be careful who is listening when you talk about breaking a circle! ]: ======================================= [[ well, DAMN IT ALL. I JUST lost tons of stuff I’d copied and pasted in the comment box, and written. That should reinforce my mate’s advice to compose messages or comments on Microsoft Word so I won’t lose a bunch of stuff! ! ! : ( ]] well, you probably didn’t want to read all of what I was going to post anyway! Lucky you! Fate won out. I HAD planned to send some parts of articles I found about “breaking the circle”, but suffice it to say: the idiom is used by people to represent different things. To some Native Americans the “circle” was/is part of their religion and was/is not to be broken! I also got carried away with “land of the free”. I found out some interesting things about the U.S. national anthem, including that I’d probably never heard more than the first of several stanzas of the song, which was made our national anthem over 100 years after the words were written. Richard touched on some important subjects of abuse of people in the history of Canada (and other countries!) . I think the poem tries to cover too much in too few words, some of which (for me) fail to say what I think he wants to say. And the title, Cheers Canada 150+, does not (to Me) seem to ‘fit’ the content of the poem. The first stanza seems to fit the title, but then it is mostly “downhill from there” (in MY opinion) But as I think I said already, others seem like the poem, so ……………is it ‘just me’? ? ? Bri :)
A liberating Canada day poem I can fully get behind! , whereas everyone else would have just used it as an opportunity to spout a bunch of patriotic vitriol with a manifest Destiney diatribe, you take the other path of showcasing the stark reality that the country was founded on the blood of the impoverished and the destitute. Sorry I'm late for the party but I'm glad I'm hear for the aftermath. Now maybe its because I am Canadian so I feel some love for the country, but at the same time I will not deny that its history is just as corrupted as any nation founded on the exploitation and betrayal of its indigenous people, which this work exquisitely highlights. I LOVE the closing stanza, whereas history might condemn us, we have a chance to move forward to make the nation that it could be, we can end the cruelty and begin again. Here's looking to the next 150 years, (if the human race has that long) . Great work Richard thanks for telling me about it!
Kevin, you have no idea how much I sincerely appreciate your very insightful feedback. This poem was very difficult for me to write because I've lived here all my life (minus 2 years) . I've seen all the good. And the bad! I chose this occasion to focus on the bad in a positive way. Although we have a long way to go, we're moving in a positive direction. When all is said and done, we'll be able to honestly say that we're living in the greatest nation in the world!
Yes, indeed, let the circle be broken. One of my favourite sayings, If it ain't broke, break it!
And the circle must be broken! ! ! Gordon, thank you for your support and encouragement.
I support your words and positivity 100%..love the great spirit! Cheers Canada for 150th anniversary. I guess everybody knows although i never been there, Canada is the warm place because of their warm and kind people..So cheer for all of you Canadian for being great and spread love wherever you go to whoever we are all the time :) be blessed! and stay blessed!
Soul, thank you for your support and encouragement. And for thinking so warmly of us Canadians. It's only a few bad apples that seem to keep spoiling it for the rest of us.
Hi Richard: You certainly have hit several sensitive topics here - not just Canadian but universal ones as well. As Lucille Clifton is often quoted as saying that the aim of poetry is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. (Btw, I have no idea who she is either.) Good job.
Gordon, thank you for sharing Clifton's quote. And for saying that I've done a good job. Much appreciated!
It is a beautiful patriotic poem poignantly written on the occasion of 150 th anniversary of Canadian confederation with a hope to bring unity and humanity. I appreciate the penmanship of this poem. Thank u for sharing.
Kumarmani, thank you for your very positive feedback. And for appreciating the penmanship of this poem. That means a lot to me!
This commemorative piece has all the dignified beauty befitting to the occasion! This is an exhortation to break all shackles of color and creed and see humanity as one.... also a remembrance of the hard way through which the country walked to its freedom and became a unified confederation...! Great write!
Valsa, thank you so much for reading and commenting on this very important poem. I love my country Canada, but I am not proud of some of the issues addressed in the poem. I felt that I needed to write a poem about them. As always, you really add decorum to your feedback. It is always most appreciated! ! !
A strong and inspiring poem that points to the essence of universal brotherhood of man, written in commemoration of 150 years of Canadian Confederacy. Great lines. Beautiful work from an intricate mind. Remain blessed Richard.
Chinedu, thank you so much for your uplifting feedback. So greatly appreciated! ! !
The poem reflects the people's firm resolve to act for ending all kinds of racism, slavery and discrimination in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Congratulations to you and the people of Canada on the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Thanks a lot. We wish you all the best: Let us all form a new land Indeed Paradise On Earth
Rajnish, thank you for taking the time to read and comment on this most important poem. Your feedback is most appreciated. Also, thank you for the congrats and best wishes.
This is a magnificent work, Richard. I think there are times when we get caught up in the fantasy elements that accompany celebration. Perhaps in its ugliest form that takes the guise of triumphalism. Part of the heritage, any heritage, also has to account for work incomplete, injustices done, and equality denied. This is a powerful poem that should stir the conscience on the 150 anniversary.
M.J., thank you for thinking that it's magnificent and powerful. That means a great deal to me. Especially since I intend to do spoken word with it over the course of the holiday week-end.
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7/30/2025 5:54:53 AM # 1.0.0
personally, though it seems you got a lot of positive feedback in comments below, i do not care for the poem. and it ain't JUST because i'm better than you are because..............i am an American! ! ! [hee-hee, in case you thought the better...American part was serious] but i seriously did not like the poem. to ME it was..................hmm? just not up to snuff as far as i am concerned. and part of the lack of 'snuffness' is that (to Me) it is not terribly clear in some parts what you mean to say. some of the meaning i think I’ve figured out because of things i've read/heard of the past of my country. ========================================= ok. Let the circle be broken. i Googled to find the 'common definition'/meaning of this idiom. i may still find it, but while searching for it, i ran across this. [so, be careful who is listening when you talk about breaking a circle! ]: ======================================= [[ well, DAMN IT ALL. I JUST lost tons of stuff I’d copied and pasted in the comment box, and written. That should reinforce my mate’s advice to compose messages or comments on Microsoft Word so I won’t lose a bunch of stuff! ! ! : ( ]] well, you probably didn’t want to read all of what I was going to post anyway! Lucky you! Fate won out. I HAD planned to send some parts of articles I found about “breaking the circle”, but suffice it to say: the idiom is used by people to represent different things. To some Native Americans the “circle” was/is part of their religion and was/is not to be broken! I also got carried away with “land of the free”. I found out some interesting things about the U.S. national anthem, including that I’d probably never heard more than the first of several stanzas of the song, which was made our national anthem over 100 years after the words were written. Richard touched on some important subjects of abuse of people in the history of Canada (and other countries!) . I think the poem tries to cover too much in too few words, some of which (for me) fail to say what I think he wants to say. And the title, Cheers Canada 150+, does not (to Me) seem to ‘fit’ the content of the poem. The first stanza seems to fit the title, but then it is mostly “downhill from there” (in MY opinion) But as I think I said already, others seem like the poem, so ……………is it ‘just me’? ? ? Bri :)