James Thurgood

James Thurgood was born in Nova Scotia, grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and now lives in Calgary, Alberta. He has been a general laborer, musician, and teacher—not necessarily in that order. His poems have appeared in various journals, anthologies, and in a collection (Icemen/Stoneghosts, Penumbra Press).

To a Teacher in Kangwon Province

James Thurgood

(Summer 2020)

a blazing afternoon in July

you stepped past our wooden gate

in crisp charcoal suit

milkwhite shirt

red tie with gold pin

gleaming black leather brogues

to my faded shorts, tee-shirt

bare feet

you bowed

I nodded

we shook hands

till I withdrew mine

you left your shoes

outside our door

that evening

I poured you beer –

you took glass and can

from my fingers

and poured for me

I see you

your wife and son

where town touches

Demilitarized Zone

watching deer, goats, cranes

return to landmined hills:

may no explosions

blast your dreams

at the Farewell Banquet

you danced with my wife

- asking if it was all right

a third time

we all danced and sang

outside

in still darkness

we kept repeating

promises –

unwilling to part

without a word or gesture

that could not be lost

in translation