thoughts standing on Lake Erie, frozen all the way to Canada

thoughts standing on Lake Erie,
frozen all the way to Canada

 
I stood on the ice
and wished I could  walk
to Canada.

 
twenty-five miles,
dressed warm,
some food in a pack.

 
it would take a day,
and of course
there would be the arrest
on the other side.

 
such things are illegal now.

 
there was a time
when the penalty was falling
into a seam in the ice,
lying undiscovered and frozen.

 
but imagine
reaching the other shore
after not falling
through the ice,
after all the wind
and cold
and uncertainty.

 
imagine someone saying,
"This is Canada.
 Where are you from?"