Canada Dreams

          The Unavoidable Man

          He is the brother-in-law who
          sells life insurance, the high school
          bully, the next-door neighbour
          with Black Sambo on his lawn.

          His greetings bruise your upper
          arms, his knowledge of hockey
          numbs you. Such companionship:
          candid farts and comedies
          with the "little women."The
          subtlety of jabs and winks.

          The guy belongs to everyone.
          Like "Tie a Yellow Ribbon," he
          repeats himself. Talks of cars as if
          they were drugs. Brags about his boss,
          bellows through his sleeves. Hollers in
          the screen door, a giant water hose.

          Come the family picnic,
          the school reunion, the
          barbecue. A basketball
          to chase, retrieve. The ultimate
          tale of last night's game. A
          couple of gasps in the direction
          of every women's legs.

          The guy and I wolf down our
          paper plates, throw ourselves gassily
          into conversation, take it
          easy or whichever way we can.

          In the dusk we trade stories
          of skeet shoots and salmon streams,
          killing mosquitoes and piling them
          on the arm of our chairs.