Grand Pre 2001

"You're walking on Acadian graves," my daughter said.
so we walked on, looking straight ahead.

"Look above, in the tree, an eagle's nest,"
so we looked heavenward.

"Here is where we dug,"
so we looked down.

Up the steps and into the chapel.
Like the stations of the cross, we visited each
painting,

following the farmers to exile:
the reds of coats and flames,
the browns of soil and despair.

We looked to Mary, mistaken for Evangeline,
but Mary for the right bare foot,
Mary of the star on the flag.
Below her a list of names and I found ours.

We are included.
We are named.
We are Surette.
We are Acadian.

Nous sommes Surette
Nous sommes Acadienne