Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

cocooning March 30, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:17 pm
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I am wrapping myself ,

Twisting into taut threads of myself.

Coming in

Closing out

Excluding all.

No gatherings

No natterings

No blatherings

I am pulling the strings

and waiting

for wings.

.

.

The last couple of weeks I have felt many pressures to meet expectations, complete tasks, go along with plans, take charge of things, etc.  I have a number of large professional obligations ahead this month, and I need to focus.  I don’t want to be distracted by what other people think I should be doing.  I want to be left to the work I need to do, in my own time, with the ‘down time’ I forge that is actually the time when the creativity is simmering on the back burner, working for me.

Do you find other people get in the way of your goals?  How do you deal with it?  Have you learned to say no to extended family expectations and imposed obligations to do what you need to do, whether or not they approve?  How does it work out for you?

 

 

mistakes

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:07 am
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It wasn’t one

to grab you so tightly that my fingers turned white

and to kiss you until my lips bled in bed at night.

It wasn’t one

to dream it could possibly be me and you

or to fight to make it true.

It wasn’t one

to fill every day with our love year after year

then to fight as days filled with fear.

What was one

was that your body betrayed us

and you’re riding off into the sunset

without me.

.

For David & Julia

 

 

Pink re-think? March 27, 2013

Filed under: Commentary,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:40 pm
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My shirt is pink!

That means I think each day about those wimpy nerds

who cry unheard in bathroom stalls

and that’s not all.

A pink shirt proves

I’m sensitive, to those less competitive

in this dog eat dog world of grinding cogs in

mean machines that devour

gentle flowers.

I wear a pink shirt

not to subvert the status quo

’cause don’t you know,

I hurt , too.

I hurt just as badly as you!

Those Wal-Mart bodies overflowing with fat

riding their scooters

Are too much of a hoot to resist staring at

and sharing to all five hundred of my Facebook friends.

Ha! Look at that

pathetic loser!

Why respect his dignity?

Why contain my bigotry?

Hey!  I’ve been bullied, too!

I hurt just as much as you.

But that guy, seriously?

Why act so furiously at me?

Why are you lashing at my humour

I’m just laughing, I’m not some tumour

of society, I’m just a guy, so quit it with the anxiety!

Look, here’s a brilliant warden

who puts all his prisoners in pink.  What do you think

of that?  Anti-bullying, hard-labour, and bread and water.

I agree!  I’ll share that will Facebook, see!

A prisoner should not expect respect

while serving time for their misdeeds, not rehabilitation

a trade, or improvement in his station.  No, he should be humiliated

even if being affiliated with negativity destroys personal dignity.

They wear pink shirts and think of their hurts.

Just like me.

I think, in pink, that every day I have a choice

to promote or demote

to improve lives or remove lives.

To embrace what is different without mocking

to try talking with who’s different, in grace,

To show compassion, and kindness, and care

everywhere.

To keep my mouth shut, when I’m inclined to giggle

at the size of some butt,

not to repeat the smut.

Because, who knows?

Perhaps I’m peaking now,

and in twenty years,

my best behind me,

my butt expanding from hours at my computer.

When I want to shop I’ll be on a scooter at WalMart

still just as smart, ready with a kind remark

at bullies snapping my photo with their phone

mocking me, not knowing I was once just like them

condemned to future hurts,

by hypocritical displays

in my pink shirt.

 

 

I’m coming home March 26, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 4:01 pm
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I’m coming home

From far flung flings

and flailing things

like starfish arms, gripping rock, torn by tide.

.

I’m coming home

to truth tuned tightly

and played upon my harp

like melodies that echo in the wind

from unplucked strings.

.

I’m coming home

in isolated indigo tiptoeing

in Indian moccasins, like flocks I’ve seen

in creeping dreams.

.

I’m coming home

only you will know me

dancing past in dazzling light

and carried on the breeze

but you will know

when I am home.

 

tree time March 21, 2013

Filed under: Commentary,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:14 pm
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Centuries go by

in whirling winds, in rustling rains

in silent snow

.

Centuries go by

Moccasins tread silently,

worship towering boughs.

.

Centuries go by

Path’s pounded into road and

jarring engines rush

.

Centuries go by

.

Stout Grove Redwoods

Stout Grove Redwoods

 

separation haiku March 20, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:23 pm
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The ocean between

us is not so wide that I

cannot feel you here.

.

DSCN0102

 

 

beach haiku March 19, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:31 am
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Ocean backs away

and denizens are caught sunbathing

in small pools.

.

Tidal pool at Seal Rock, Oregon

Tidal pool at Seal Rock, Oregon

Can you see the  Green Anemones” clinging to the rock on the left?  You can see how windy it is from the ripples on the water!  It was a stormy day.

Here’s a tidal pool rich in sea life!  This one is the touch pool at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  That big anemone on the right grabbed my finger and numbed the tip with its anaesthetic.  On the left are abalone, the black frill just feels like a satin ribbon.  The star fish are rough.

.

Touch pool at Oregon Coast Aquarium

 

kiss the sky March 15, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:02 am
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The fields are reaching

 misty fingers from the earth,

stretching to the sky.

Clouds descend, enfolding all

in their diaphanous cloaks.

 

 

out out brief candle March 14, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:17 pm
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Out, out brief candle

The spark of light

Is too difficult to handle

Beyond the might

Of simple mortals.

So much better to embark

through gleaming portals

into eternal dark.

 

today haikus March 13, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:55 pm
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It’s  just one day, but

one  is all it takes to change

everything.  Today.

.

Today is just one

day, but one is all it takes

to change everything.

.

One is all it takes

to change everything.  Just one

but it’s today.

.

To change everything,

just one is all it takes–just one,

It’s one day: today.

.

This is my 900th post on this blog!  Yay! 

Thanks for being here with me to celebrate the moment!