For unto us
in Aklavik
is born a child, in
Attawapiskat
Gaspé
Corner Brook, Newfoundland.
And a son is given in
Wetaskiwin
Bella Coola
FlinFlon.
And the future of the whole earth
is placed upon the shoulders of the daughter of
Tuktoyaktuk
Tignish
Swan Lake.
And the place of their birth is called
Vermilion
Temiskaming
Nain.
Picture Butte
An angel of the lord appears in the night sky
over Rankin Inlet, over
Iqaluit, saying
This shall be the sign: you will find the babe
wrapped in cast-off flannel, lying
on a bed of straw, in
Esther, Alberta
in a winter feeding stall
an open boxcar, outside
Kindersley, Saskatchewan.
And sure, several hours north
from Hogg’s Hollow, just this side
Engelhart
you see a one, sleeping in its mother’s arms
on the soft shoulder, where their car broke down.
And the dark highway shines
imperishable life
while helping them
beneath these northern lights
and driving on, through
Cochrane
Kapuskasing
Hearst
past Nipigon, and on
to the little town of Emo
Rainy River Region,
and least among the little dots
that lie scattered as stars
and litter the map
of Northwest Ontario,
where they’re expecting you,
as in so many other
of these least likely dots
this expectation
also is, in
Miniota
Pickle Lake
Ohswekan
Glace Bay.
For unto us
For into all
this night
is born a child, this night
bearing each
and the places of their birth,
and nativity is given
every name.
