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Hard Work Cheering Up Sad Machines

Hard Work Cheering Up Sad Machines

by Jason Heroux

It's easy to breathe if you're breathing
breathe all you want the air is too cold
                and weak to run away
your life is a gift with your name on it
a word there's no word for
breathe all you want it's easy to breathe
                if you're breathing
the air is an all-you-can-breathe buffet
it's hard work cheering up sad machines
hard work cleaning a number's cage
our heartbeats are staggered staples
                holding us together
birds sing like kettles boiling song-water
your life is a gift with your name on it
and your life is a word there's no word for
breath all you want breathe all you want

About this Poem

Cover of Hard Work Cheering Up Sad Machines

This poem is from Jason Heroux's most recent collection Hard Work Cheering Up Sad Machines (2016). You can find it and more of his works in the KFPL catalogue. More information about the author can be found on his his personal blog.

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 There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston.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