Canada national holiday is celebrated on July 1 to mark the anniversary of confederation. The Constitution Act of 1867 united three colonies into a single nation of Canada. July 1 is the day when Canadians celebrate the birthday of Canada to honor the anniversary of the Constitution Act of 1867 when Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario and Quebec became a single country. From this day, Canada began to enjoy a larger amount of independence from Great Britain. It was called Dominian Day. In 1958, this day began to be recognized as Canada Day that promoted Canadian pride. The day is celebrated with fireworks, outdoor concerts, live music and other activities, including sports. The national day is celebrated in different ways. I celebrate the Canada Day with my ghazal 25. Literary meaning of ghazal is conversation with women—also means affection. Ghazal developed in Persia in the 10th century from its original form in the Arabic language. It was brought to India by the Mogul invaders in the 12th century and is popular these days in India and Pakistan. My ghazals are in Sufi, Bhakti, mystic and Christian traditions, and are unlike the Elizabethan sonnets which are in iambic pentameter of fixed rhyming schemes, divided into two sections. My every ghazal is of eighteen lines and is in a single paragraph without any division and consists of one hundred words. The last line rhymes with the preceding one.
I CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WITH MY GHAZAL
GHAZAL 25
You are
benevolent patron saint of sailors
who protects my sailing rights
from the unprovoked sharks of darkness
to rove across horizons with new eyes.
Away from the rayless resort
a mad poet in discomfort, I aspire to sing
the maddening melody that dances
in the contour of your glances.
They strengthen to uproot unwanted gifts
from overhanging dangers cliffs.
I perceive serenity sweeping around.
Agent of growth and change,
my reasonable confidence in you
blooms in my ghazals which float.
Humming, a Seaway bird of freedom,
I come to you to burn my pains
you carry celestial astounding gaze.

Stephen Gill
Indo/Canadian poet
www.stephengill.ca
www.stephengillcriticism.info