Oodles of Odes

Deb: ODE TO A SPARKLER

In Canada, hooray, it’s Victoria Day,

And we celebrate this in a most special way.

We come to pay homage to our long dead queen

And celebrate her life, for it’s in our genes.

We emerge from our winter homes primed for the sun

And run to buy fireworks, the fun has begun.

We stand on our streets; we stand neighbour to neighbour

And shout oooh and ahhh at the fruits of our labour.

But there is one little gem on this traditional night

That stays in my heart with its light burning bright,

The simple wee sparkler with its festive display

Like a tiny bright fairy lighting my way.

It can take me way back to my days as a child

When the summer was starting, and the weather turned mild.

In its light I see my parents wrapped in their youth

In its buzzing I hear laughter, memories, truth,

Truth in traditions that make the world sweet

All over the planet and on our tiny street.

Barbara: ODE TO AN ODE

Dear Deb, how I love your beautiful ode

To sparklers and neigbours and a traditional mode.

I cherish these things very much as you do,

Memories of warm nights, cold beer, and fireworks too.

But homage to queens of British descent

Don’t do much except maybe make me resent

That I’ve never had blood of this Anglophile line.

So I may well be a disrespectful bovine

When I say, “Queen Victoria, well, fiddle-dee-dee,

I don’t give a fig that they named a holiday for thee,

But I’ll party, relax, and savour the break

And light sparklers and hug neighbours for your glorious sake.”

Thanks for humouring us, everyone! We have posted NEW FUN STUFF to Side of Slaw and WTF?!  Click over to read.

Happy Victoria Day … or Monday, whichever you prefer!