God Save the Queen
born American
in Buffalo
at the age of one
taken to Canada
crossing the border
like a criminal
in plain sight
those days
Canada belonged
to the Queen
my mother ran away
from her marriage
I was baggage
she left me with her parents
“sorry I can’t do this right now”
lived with apartment dwellers
scratched and clawed
she resented the Queen
for the attention and the jewelry
my grandfather loved me
never found his footing
in the land of maple leaves
scars of war
and unrequited love
we went to see the Queen
she was in a car
we didn’t see her
just watched the car drive away
very much like my mother
my grandmother loved me
never found her footing
marriage was arranged
raised three children
given one more
spoke five languages
Polish nightmares
chased by Russian soldiers
Queen granted her
passage to Canada
God Save the Queen
everyone would stand
sing “God Save the Queen”
in movie theaters and stadiums
Toronto television stations
signed off with
“God Save the Queen”
first money I ever touched
had her face on it
I was a child
she was my Queen
even now the words
echoes in my memory
God Save the Queen
I was only nine years old
taken back to America
to look for belonging
met my father
he put on running shoes
“sorry I can’t do this right now”
predators picked up my scent
prayed for God
prayed for Queen
neither came
when she died
I cried
God Save the Queen
Zack Hoffman 2025
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