What If The Solution To All Your Problems Is To Get Really Into The History Of Polar Exploration. Have

kids these days just want to be on phone. NO ONE is dying at my antarctic research station

in a parasocial relationship with the sea

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Closing In By Marsel van Oosten

Aurora Borealis by Frederic Edwin Church, 1865

canadian gothic

You have never seen the Tim Hortons’ employees outside their restaurant. You didn’t apply for a job there when you turned sixteen, but they called you all the same. Twice. 

There’s that boy you went to school with, Samuel, he was once so rude that they - you do not know any boy named Samuel. 

There comes a time in January when you cannot remember what’s buried under all that snow, and you are glad. 

You wonder what the others hear when the winds from the Great North blow; you always want to ask, but the winds made you promise not to. 

The week after the New Year, you walk past the frozen lake and hear knocking from under the ice. You smile, and you do not know why.

A warm summer means the maple syrup will taste like rust and something you do not want to name; the trees miss the cold. 

The hospital’s waiting room is always full and you can never remember why you’re here. 

The weatherman speaks of the coming snowstorm with a fondness you will take years to master, much to your sorrow. They can sense fear. 

Ghost Ship - or barque Europa in dense fog, Photo: Brendan Byrne

Canadian(BC) Gothic

- You hear the crickets at night. It’s louder then you remember. It’s better then it being quiet.

- Winter comes fast. When will it leave? You don’t remember.

- There’s a snap in the woods behind you. You hope it’s your dog. You don’t check.

- You see an Alberta license plate. Then another one. The cars are the same.

- You walk around the fall fair. The bright lights and noises fend off anything coming from the surrounding woods, but only till 10:00.

- Halloween is around the corner. You see the local adds about it. Check your candy, don’t go into the woods, always carry a flashlight, stay with your group.

- The tenth person this year has gone missing in the mountains. It’s February.

- Your friend collects animal skulls. You help.

- You go hiking to pick Saskatoon berries. You dare stray from the path, but never go so far you can’t see it.

- You see a missing pet sign and wonder why people still put them up. We all know if it hasn’t turned up before nightfall that the coyotes got to it.

- You always go to the same timmies. You order a double double. They get you a triple triple instead.

- You plan to move to Vancouver. Everyone does.

- You’re stuck behind a logging truck. You’re always stuck behind a logging truck.

- The crust on top of the snow makes it easier to walk on. That is, of course, unless the snow decides it wants to keep you.

- You’re skiiing. No one is wearing a jacket. You’re not wearing a jacket. It’s very hot out.

- Winter snow is blinding. Summer sun is blinding. There is no happy medium.

- Your window rattles. You don’t need to look outside. Part of you knows and dreads whatever is out there.

- The rain is pouring. It’s sunny out.

- The hockey academy guys leave for the rink on the first day. You don’t see them again.