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Sunrise on the Ice

Sunrise on the Ice

by Olivia Ows

A figure pirouettes
in dawn’s open music box
light falls, fractures 
on the etched mirror
turtledoves weave a nest 
of silver calligraphy
as soprano blades serenade
reprising last night’s cheers
and rousing a newborn 
snowflake from slumber.  

About this Poem

Sunrise on the Ice

Unfortunately this community event has been cancelled.
Olivia Ows, a Grade 11 student from Regiopolis-Notre Dame, has written a 'response poem' to last year's "Night Skaters, Skeleton Park" SPAF poetry installation by Steven Heighton. SPAF has installed Olivia's poem on the Skeleton Park rink boards.

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 There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston.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