OTTAWA

Like the fabled El Dorado

it beckoned ever stronger now

just over the horizon

where all our relatives could be found

Early childhood visits in summers

past dreams fulfilled

when to a small boy

wrapped in the innocence of the 60s

two weeks there

seemed too long in coming

then gone so fast

This air force family - no more

transferring itself

to small town Canada

now only 40 miles

from the poetry of a million lights

Peace Tower and Parliament

and leading to them

a ten mile strip called Bank Street

where anything could be bought

But for now

we were happy with main street

covered in a five minute walk

where one could comfortably

say hello to strangers

easily recognize fellow residents

from those out of town

and at home

leave doors unlocked

In summer

my brother and I

would ride our bikes

up to the highway Dairy Queen

and while eating our cones

smile at the ribbon of gold

eyes following to where

it disappeared on the horizon

and to a dream fulfilled

but a few years away

© 1999 Chris Sorrenti

photo © 2000 by author