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trees are happy here, I have asked
rocks are happy here, I have asked
pallid-blue, pitch-black skies are both happy here
roads, inside the city , and the country-roads, Whirling
Dervishes of the west, not quiet tipsy but very happy here
birds are happy, they have their share of the nectar
cats are pretty happy, although they don’t care to admit
the sun is happy, even her glare is joyful
stars are happy, no competition with night-lights
the moon, of all the people, is quite cheerful here
I have asked many many people
a large number, I must say, all have confirmed they’re
happy here, very happy here
well, some looked displeased with my query,
amazed, as if it was insane even to consider the opposite
I said sorry. I said of course. I said I know. I said I understand.
I have asked houses, all types of houses
they said they were all happy here, very, very happy
they said they’d not switch places with houses elsewhere, not ever
they were aware, they said, of evacuations, of
abandonings, even bombings happening daily
on poor houses elsewhere
“Isn’t that awful?” they said
Baby’s are quite happy, no complaints
I have asked dogs, all of them very
appreciative, most obliged
they said their only worry was that the owners
might, god forbid, take them out
of Owen Sound.
Cows, magnificent, serene cows, seem
to be in perfect harmony with the
meadow, they are happy here
the rain rains happy rains
she says she’s forgotten sorrows originally the cause
of her constant mourning
she says her droplets do not clash with the ground here,
that’s a relief, she says,
the cause? she believes it’s the rocks
the gentle, massive rocks have changed the murky nature of earth
the dreaded shaky ground is
steady here in Owen Sound
snow likes it here
stays clean shimmering white all winter long
doesn’t have to eat dirt like they do in Toronto
the wind is happy, very happy, hurling peacefully, no rush
I am happy here
I am happy here
of course I’m sorry don’t understand but I am happy, very happy here
So Happy In Owen Sound
Nov. 2006
Owen Sound
Saghi Ghahraman
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