Poems From Inside Me

A Poem About My Home

Edmonton Poem

I live in this place

Where no bad luck could ever erase

The smiles of pure joy on each face

Where all women and men can win the race

All things no other city could ever replace

This is the City I live in

This is the place I have chosen

Is there any other city where you see rabbits

Running free with the gulls and the cats and the magpies

Not just way among the outskirts

But right where I live; downtown

I have met so many wonderful people here

From places far away and near

Who were called to this northern city

Who wanted work not just more pity

They all had made a home in the snow here

And in the summer sun which can be unforgiving

Because above all something is made very clear

It doesn’t matter what are your beginnings

My father came from Europe

My neighbors from Italy

My favorite poet is from Somalia

And in this great city all of us are free

I have met kind old ladies who taught me Chinese

Danish friends who tell me of my roots

All so eager to be friendly and to please

And all generous to boot

This is the City I live in

This is the place I have chosen

Once I took this great home of mine for granted

Travelled far to live out on the coast

But after two years when I was firmly planted

I realized it was this place I truly loved the most

Edmonton you are a sprawling, growing city

So green and lovely in the summer days

And I love your international diversity

Which you embrace in so many wonderful ways

I am proud to be a Canadian

And to feel a part of all this nation has done

But even for just a weekend

I hate leaving my home in Edmonton

Each neighborhood in this fair city

Has a name to wear with pride

I live in Boyle-MacCauley

My brother in Strathcona on the south side

A while back I went to see Hawaii

And I will tell you I was amazed

That Edmonton has equal beauty

As that warm island so deeply praised

Something about hours of sunlight

Which in summer are close to eighteen

Make the flowers and leaves so incredibly bright

And make for a city like no one has seen

This is the city I live in

This is the place I have chosen

Edmonton is many towns and two cities

Divided with a valley full of life so diverse

North and South adorned with such beauty

This place all made one is my Universe

We have tried to watch out for our poor here

Tried to provide for the old and the sick

So that higher needs can become clear

It’s called caring and it’s not a political trick

I think we care more for the needy

Perhaps because life here once was so tough

Although we still have those who are greedy

Somehow the needy get enough

So if you think you can stand a cold winter

But be awed at the bright northern lights

And want to see the city of festivals

And sample our northern delights

There is work to be had and much joy here

Parks and schools for all the young ones

And always nature waits here

In this city of love, caring and fun

This is the City I live in

This is the place I have chosen

Edmonton

June 13, 2014

Thanks for reading my “Edmonton Poem”  If you like my writing, I am on wattpad and Facebook (Valhalla books) and always welcome more readers.  I also have four of my books for sale on amazon, all for just 99 cents each.  Check out my amazon page at:  http://www.amazon.com/author/leifgregersen for more details.