The blue and white fleur-de-lis flag
waved its welcome as we arrived
Much colder than Texas schoolgirls could have imagined
Quickly grabbed mittens, boots, and coats
and hiked through snow drifts
accompanied by a swirl of
students’ laughter and Frenglish
We observed Québec City from cozy dormer windows
With icicle daggers hanging from the eaves
visited museums
attended classes
cautiously tried school cafeteria poutine
prayed and sang together
tobogganed down the boardwalk
rolled maple syrup taffy in the snow
sipped hot chocolate in the Hôtel de Glace
snow tubed the slopes of Valcartier
At peaceful picturesque Île d’Orléans
the sugar shack sleigh ride
passed tapped trees and frozen waterfalls
dotted with ice climbers
Learned that maple syrup
tasted great on almost everything
Our last night together
near Le Chateau Frontenac
we danced and twirled around
caught snowflakes on our tongues
A breathtaking view of Old Québec and
the St. Lawrence River in the moonlight
– Tara L. Carnes