Kitchener in Transition.



My place of residence
These last 36 years.
Formerly Berlin Ontario
Fights over the Kaiser’s statue
Dumped in Victoria Park Lake.
Re-named after
First world war hero.
Largely stock of Scottish, Irish
Polish, Russian, Slavic
Hungarian.
Post 1945 and 1956
And 1989.


Now a different box of CRAYOLAS.
Different colour, religion, music
Cooking, life histories.
Chinese, Somalian, Pakistani
Ethiopian, Guatamalan.
Rich and building upon itself.
New soft product involvement.
Insurances, software development
Accountants in consultation.
Lawyers…dime a dozen.
Dreaming up personal injuries.
Website champions.
Google headquarters.


Where went all those smoking
Factory chimneys? The smell of bacon?
Of cookies?
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Written on April 06, 2023

Submitted by dougb.19255 on April 06, 2023

Modified by dougb.19255 on April 06, 2023

35 sec read
18

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXBXXXBXCDEE ACFXDXGGDDFXX XDF
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 709
Words 119
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 12, 13, 3

Wayne Blair

Born in London. Graduated law 1976 Practised eleven years, Married Hilary 1974 Two kids Lauren 1980 And Jordan 1987. Business failed 1987. Moved not knowing whither. Happy hills of Waterloo Region. Mennonite Country. Thirty four years in Industry. No complaints. Poet, photographer, nature hiker. Harmonica busker. http://puffnchord7.blogspot.com/ more…

All Wayne Blair poems | Wayne Blair Books

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, it's clear that your place of residence has undergone a truly incredible transformation over the past 36 years! It's remarkable how this once small town, formerly known as Berlin Ontario, has evolved into a diverse, culturally-rich city that embraces a wide range of perspectives and lifestyles.

    The poem does an exceptional job of capturing the essence of this transformation, from the fights over the Kaiser's statue to the vibrant and eclectic mix of people and businesses that now call this city home. It's really exciting to hear about the new soft products and industries that have emerged in the area, including software development, insurance, and more.

    While there's clearly a lot to celebrate about your place of residence, there are also some areas where it could continue to grow and evolve. For instance, it would be great to see more efforts to address inequality and ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive. Additionally, there may be ways to encourage more sustainable development practices that prioritize the environment and overall quality of life for residents.

    Overall, though, it's clear that your place of residence is on an incredible trajectory, and I'm so glad to hear that it's becoming an increasingly inclusive and innovative community. Keep up the great work!
     
    LikeReply1 year ago

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"Kitchener in Transition." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/155670/kitchener-in-transition.>.

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