James Thurgood damn lucky
no one moves
as if the foreman
had just said
let’s knock off early
it’s old Frenchie
from up north
at the metal press -
didn’t get his hand out
quick enough
we see two gloved fingers
flat in the steel trap
Frenchie eases his hand
from the glove
raises
its thumb
two whole fingers
and two familiar stubs
as if to bless us
damn
lucky I lost those two fingers
in the sawmill
twenty year ago
he says
James Thurgood was born in Nova Scotia, grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and now lives in Calgary, Alberta. He has been a labourer, musician, and teacher – not necessarily in that order. His poems have appeared in various journals, anthologies, and in a collection (Icemen/Stoneghosts, Penumbra Press). He is also the author of His Own Misfortune, a work-in-progress.
thurgoodwordsalad.blogspot.com
"damn lucky" was previously published in Prarie Fire.