Poetry By Jordan Trethewey

         Thomas CC



​
Change of Venue

After reading my little girl
to sleep, she lies
on her side, tiny hand
near slumber twitching.

We listen.
A friend’s music sends
her adrift. I am struck
by a new perfect moment.

A new contender—how
I want to leave this life
in my final moments.
She will be big.

I will be old.
We share a story,
her hand in mine
to send me adrift.

A scenario more realistic
than my aged spouse,
riding me like a cowboy
into heart attack sunset.





​Old Friends

As we grey,
I’m told pains
become familiar
like old friends,
no longer symptoms
to diagnose,
cater to.

We grow accustomed
to their many aspects,
tolerate eccentricities--
having tried all medical
means to banish them.

I hope my nagging,
uninvited aches
are not the kind to
always borrow a few bucks,
arrive at inconvenient hours,
abuse kindness,
or overstay their welcome.

My back aches--
I never turned it on anyone.
Perhaps this old friend remains
to remind me of the price
of never saying no.

​

​
​Fredericton Poet Laureate Jordan Trethewey lives in Nashwaaksis, with his wife, son, and daughter. Jordan writes poetry, drama, children’s literature, historical and short fiction. His writing appears in national and international journals…and in a lunar capsule on the Moon. He is an editor at the on-line literary journal Open Arts Forum. Some of his work is also translated in Vietnamese, Farsi, and French. Jordan’s recent books, “Spirits for Sale” (2019), and “Unexpected Mergers” (2021) are collaborations with Dutch artist Marcel Herms, and are available at AMAZON.com. For more info about why he does what he does, check out these Q&A’s with Wombwell Rainbow, Fishbowl Press Poetry, and Spillwords.