Milton Acorn and I were comrades in the Canadian Liberation Movement (CLM) half a century ago. Milton was a dyed in the wool Canuck nationalist, vehemently opposed to the U.S. cultural control of Canada. Fifty years later, our concerns over an Amerikan takeover have proven true with Trump's threats to annex us as the 51st state.
Hans Jewinski, better known as Toronto's "Poet Cop", was riding
in his squad car when he noticed fellow poet and demonstrator
Milton Acorn and his merry band walking in a westerly
direction. Hans stopped his car and asked Milton where he was
going. Milton answered, "We are on our way to a demonstration
at Allan Gardens." Hans offered to escort Milton and his group
to the demonstration. As Hans turned on the flashing squad car
lights, Hans' partner edged further down in his seat, hoping not
to be seen by any other passing fellow police officers.
Several weeks later, Hans encountered Milton and his followers
again. This time, they were walking east towards the Don River.
"Milton, where are you going?" asked Hans. Milton replied, "We
are heading to Allan Gardens for a demonstration." With a look
of amazement, Hans declared, "Milton, you're heading in the
wrong direction!!"
*dedicated to Milton Acorn, based on an incident described by Hans Jewinski
from Looking into the Fish Tank, poems by Kent Bowman
Aeolus House, 2022
Milton Acorn, The People's Poet
from wikipedia:
Acorn was awarded the Canadian Poets Award in 1970 and the Governor General's Award in 1976 for his collection of poems, The Island Means Minago.[15][16] In 1977, Acorn introduced the Jackpine sonnet, a form designed to be as irregular and spikey (and Canadian) as a jack pine tree, but with internal structure and integrity. Without a fixed number of lines and with varied line lengths, the Jackpine sonnet depends on interweaving internal rhymes, assonance and occasional end-rhymes.[17]
Great memory & poem
btw, I tried to post a comment but a message popped up indicating to try again later. Reminded me of a pop bottle cap contest
Hope you're well.
Personally, I've found 2025 a terrible year; I'm looking forward to 1977. [sic]
cheers Henry Martinuk
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