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an excerpt from "A Thin Line Between"

an excerpt from "A Thin Line Between"

by Wanda Praamsma

outside, crickets
washed away by wind
down below, water
a tank, constant drips
footsteps up the wooden stairs
the rattle of the stove pipe

the wind stops
the crickets start, again

       

      we leave amsterdam
      michiel looks at craig and I both
      sitting in the big red work van
      on the way to schiphol

            m says:

                  you guys are more connected now
                  not so, picking at each other, I think

      yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, we say

       

       

      (pause)
      (pause)
      (pause)
      (pause)

About this Poem

Cover of A Thin Line Between by Wanda Praamsma

A Thin Line Between, a book-length poem written while living in Amsterdam during the winter of 2010-2011, is Kingston poet Wanda Praamsma’s first book of verse.

About the Poetry Blackboard

The Poetry Blackboard showcases poems curated by Kingston's Poet Laureate and written by Kingston poets. There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston. Started in 2015 by Helen Humphreys, the Poetry Blackboard has been continued since 2019 by Jason Heroux.

We wish to thank Helen Humphreys, Kingston's second Poet Laureate, for her generous support of emerging and established poets in Kingston through library programming and our Poetry Blackboard project. Throughout her four years as Poet Laureate, Helen curated a digital collection of poetry to showcase the talents of local creators of all ages, both historic and contemporary. Helen also offered several opportunities for emerging poets to develop their craft, offering group workshops and one-on-one mentorship. Her active engagement with the library and community has been greatly appreciated.

In 2019 we welcomed the incoming Poet Laureate, Jason Heroux, who continues to curate the Poetry Blackboard and to develop new community programming.

Previously Published Poems