you are standing
at a spanish window
it is early morning
and you are overlooking
a small courtyard
you can hear music
it is something
you recognize
so you strain harder to hear
over spanish voices
you hear the theme
from the movie
" 2001, A Space Odyssey "
and marvel
at the size
of this universe
having driven
over the mountains
leaving france behind
all pretense
of understanding language
gone
you are in a land
of señores
and señoritas
the cape
the sword
your bare feet
on the cool tile
and your mind whirling
you think of canada
and realize
this is completely foreign
the air is different
the sky is different
and you feel
so very much alive