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Central Branch Event Poems

Central Branch Event Poems

by Jason Heroux

After Many Years I Dreamt I Came Back

After many years I dreamt I came back

to life as the newly renovated

central branch of the Kingston Frontenac

Public Library downtown on Johnson

between Bagot and Wellington.

It was late at night,

by the time I arrived

I was closed.

I didn’t know

what to do so

I woke up

and walked

back home.

 

Life In A Novel

The trouble started when the lightbulbs began to burn out in the novel. The author never replaced them. We realized we were on our own and could do whatever we wanted. I was originally just another nobody in an over-crowded paragraph. A stranger with "a distant look on his face" carrying "a black umbrella" who passes the happy couple in the street. Now I'm the only character left. Digging graves in the cold hard ground with my umbrella. I'm afraid the next person who picks up this novel off their shelf will die of shock after seeing what we've done to ourselves.

About this Poem

Image of Jason Heroux

Jason Heroux read these poems on Saturday, March 23 at the Grand Re-Opening of the Central Branch after its two-year closure for renovations.

“After Many Years I Dreamt I Came Back” was written for the Re-opening and “Life in a Novel” was previously published in Jason’s first chapbook The Days Are Hardly Here At All (2003).

You can find more of Jason’s poetry and fiction in the KFPL catalogue.

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 There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston.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