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Renga of a Distanced Spring

Renga of a Distanced Spring

by Ashley-Elizabeth Best, Nancy Jo Cullen, Jason Heroux, Helen Humpreys, Kirsteen MacLeod, Sadiqa de Meijer and Sarah Tsiang

Stay home cloud, the sky
is closed and there is no wind,
but you’re not alone.

Through the window a sparrow,
her song as large as summer.

Purple crocus, April snow.
The confusion of what
will stay or pass.

Frogs resurge in icy ponds,
peep their song: it all comes back.

Returned to sender, 
now its postage
is a raindrop tracing a twig.

Midges quiver sunspots at
dusk spilling a cool spring air.

Clouds of midges:
joyous crowd, small bodies 
swim through our shared sea of air.

New morning at the corner
of Division and Union.

About this Poem

Six months ago, on March 17, the province of Ontario announced a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here in Kingston, seven poets co-wrote "Renga of a Distanced Spring". Filmmaker Ali Dixon shot an animated video to accompany this renga, presented in retrospect by the Skeleton Park Arts Festival. You can also find the video on KFPL’s YouTube channel. The text has been posted on the StoryMe 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 There's a new poem every month, written by poets living and dead, historical and contemporary, published and unpublished, adults and children, giving full range to the cultural voice of Kingston.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