I tried to catch a snapping turtle
in an old tin pail.
She ducked and dove. I hopped and turned.
It was to no avail.

Half in, half out, she flopped about—
refusing to be snared.
I could have grabbed her by the shell,
but I was much too scared.

Image credit:Donna Yarbrough

Jordan Trethewey is the poet laureate of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He has published work with many small online and print publications internationally, and his work has been translated in Vietnamese, Farsi, and French. He would be bewildered to know you are reading this right now, but would also be secretly pleased. :)

Find more of his work on his work here: jordantretheweywriter.wordpress.com