Remembrance Day 2020
Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/
Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II we honour and salute all who have served and those who continue to serve and I am honoured to share the following poem "Private Braun Scott Woodfield" ©pj johnson 2005
Private Braun Scott Woodfield ©pj johnson 2005
they say his comrades
called him “Woody”
he’d been awarded three medals
and his next venture
probably would have been
search and rescue
because
‘that’s just the kind of guy he was’
the tattoo on his shoulder said:
“Made in Canada”
on thursday afternoon
somewhere in afghanistan
an armored vehicle swerved
to avoid another vehicle
and rolled
today a father fights his tears
as a piper plays amazing grace
and another flag-draped coffin
slowly makes its way
across the tarmac
they say he chose
to serve his country
his mother should be proud
he was only 24
she tells the regiment
“you’re all my sons now
all my boys.”
she gave them her son
they gave her a flag
he is everybody’s son
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Canada Day 1995
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In 1985 I was invited by former Yukon Commissioner Doug Bell to visit his office and sit at his desk to sign a copy of my first little book “I Sing Yukon” that was sent to Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne. Commissioner Bell later received a message from the palace thanking ‘Mr P. Johnson’ for the book.
It’s not every day you get to see your name on Buckingham Palace stationary.
And it wasn't there on January 8 1985 either. No one gets my name right.
A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.
"canadians, canadians " ©pj johnson 4 April 1996
oh, canadians, canadians
we're ever so polite
when the chips are down
and we're on the ground
we'd sooner switch
than fight
oh canadians, canadians
we're all so flippin' nice
if you knock us down
we'll apologize
not flippin' once
but twice
oh canadians, canadians
neurotic as can be
with a slab o' land
that's bleedin' grand
but no
identity
oh canadians, canadians
our true love strong and free
we salute the mighty
maple leaf
and godbless
GST
oh canadians, canadians
in a land of endless wealth
though we call her home
it's a fact well-known
we're all from somewhere
else
oh canadians, canadians
no matter what you say
we'll finish off
each utterance
with a most distinctive
"Eh?"
oh canadians, canadians
when all is said and done
though we hem n' we haw
n' we navel-gaze
we're a heckova lotta
fun!
Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/
A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.
"canadians, canadians " ©pj johnson 4 April 1996
oh, canadians, canadians
we're ever so polite
when the chips are down
and we're on the ground
we'd sooner switch
than fight
oh canadians, canadians
we're all so flippin' nice
if you knock us down
we'll apologize
not flippin' once
but twice
oh canadians, canadians
neurotic as can be
with a slab o' land
that's bleedin' grand
but no
identity
oh canadians, canadians
our true love strong and free
we salute the mighty
maple leaf
and godbless
GST
oh canadians, canadians
in a land of endless wealth
though we call her home
it's a fact well-known
we're all from somewhere
else
oh canadians, canadians
no matter what you say
we'll finish off
each utterance
with a most distinctive
"Eh?"
oh canadians, canadians
when all is said and done
though we hem n' we haw
n' we navel-gaze
we're a heckova lotta
fun!
Read more: https://www.yukonpoetlaureate.com/canada-day/
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A tuneful take on the art of being Canadian.
"canadians, canadians " ©pj johnson 4 April 1996
oh, canadians, canadians
we're ever so polite
when the chips are down
and we're on the ground
we'd sooner switch
than fight
oh canadians, canadians
we're all so flippin' nice
if you knock us down
we'll apologize
not flippin' once
but twice
oh canadians, canadians
neurotic as can be
with a slab o' land
that's bleedin' grand
but no
identity
oh canadians, canadians
our true love strong and free
we salute the mighty
maple leaf
and godbless
GST
oh canadians, canadians
in a land of endless wealth
though we call her home
it's a fact well-known
we're all from somewhere
else
oh canadians, canadians
no matter what you say
we'll finish off
each utterance
with a most distinctive
"Eh?"
oh canadians, canadians
when all is said and done
though we hem n' we haw
n' we navel-gaze
we're a heckova lotta
fun!
