Sometimes
when your shoe is hurting,
it’s because of the seam
on the sock.
poem-partners March 6, 2015
Sometimes
when your shoe is hurting,
it’s because of the seam
on the sock.
poem- limping March 5, 2015
The physiotherapist
rolls, stretches, and manipulates
my ankle joint.
Push here.
Pull there.
Between parallel bars
re-learn to walk:
roll from the heel,
flex that joint.
Let go.
If you rely on the supports
and are too tender with the joint
you’ll continue to limp.
Your body will think it must,
even when the joint is healed.
How many other ways
am I limping in my life?
How many other ways
should I re-learn to walk?
.
For Jody and Anita
poem-anxious sovereignty March 4, 2015
You and I are independent souls.
I move through the house;
You rest comfortably in contented sovereignty.
You do not need to dog my heels
to glorify each moment at my side
or expect me to worship at your feet.
You ignore me for hours,
sleeping in peaceful, self-sufficiency.
We are independent souls,
until the moment I step outside the door,
and calamity explodes in barks and whines.
It pants, scratches, and pees displeasure
at this, your desperate circumstance,
wailing at the injustice of loneliness,
vomiting up fathomless grief.
For the hours I am present, I do not exist;
for the hour I am absent, I make your world
a cavernous void.
Dog ironies
amid anxieties.
,
,
OJ is not doing well since Dusty went to the Rainbow Bridge. We’ve tried swaddling as per Thundershirt. We’ve got the Rescue Remedy. He’s in his safe, contained space. We fill the Kong with goodness. Still the dog thinks the world is ending when I walk out the door. Got any other suggestions? Except a new dog companion. Hubby imagines a dog-free household in our near future. (I’m allergic to cats, so that’s not an option either).
poem- philosophy of place March 3, 2015
A poem created as part of my grad school Poetic Diversity Project:
Where I grew up
all the faces were variations of my own
Snow White, Cinderella,
assorted Prince Charmings
interchangeable
My experiences with other cultures were
Princess Tiger Lily, Little Black Sambo,
Emperor’s Nightingale.
But somehow I knew the world was bigger
and I wanted to wrap my tongue
around other languages
entwine new vowels
between rhythmic syllables and
see inside minds that
offered something
more.
Offered something
more.
Offered something
not better
not worse
just different
Because different is worth noticing
because different means to the same end
speak to a journey with different views
a different beauty
a different way
of being human,
offers something
more.
poem-there
Midnight sun
your bright glow
matches my summer soul.
Midday night
your sky indigo
I hibernate and am made whole
Northern land
that journey long ago
taught me a heart has many homes.
.
.
⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓ ⇓
A rumination on my Rotary youth exchange year in Finland.
Do you have a place that changed your philosophy and perspective? Share your poetry or leave a comment about it at https://shawnbird.com/poetic-diversity-project/
We’d love to hear your voice!
⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑ ⇑
poem-return March 2, 2015
The welcome words
happy greetings,
shrieks and engulfing hugs,
cool nods,
teasing jokes.
Everywhere I turn
delight.
It is nice to be missed,
but nicer to be back.
.
.
.
(First day back to work after breaking my ankle. Staff and students made me feel a bit like a rock star this morning with their enthusiasm.)
poem-new March 1, 2015
The birds return
set sights on sites and sing
in fervor with that mating thing
You take to the road
push pedals for a hundred k
while I wait for petals,
seek something to say
and all of these are just the way
we mark each new spring.
Me. You. New.
too.
.
.
POETS! You are cordially invited to contribute an original poem or link to https://shawnbird.com/poetic-diversity-project/ Today’s exploration- POEMS OF PLACE. Please feel free to comment instead, about your environment and how it contributes to your writing.
poem-costume construction February 28, 2015
They’re hiding out at Huyter’s House
amid tutus and two by twos.
Keren constructs costumes and walls
Her production can not stall
(though reproduction’s done, y’all).
Garage transformed to costume shop
Gladly reformed for custom stops.
Accost tutus and two by twos,
Keren will hand a hammer to you!
.
.
.
(For my amazing friend Keren, of Huyter’s House of Costumes, because the dance studio productions don’t really care whether the new sewing room is finished or not!) 🙂
poem- it may not February 27, 2015
It may not
be what it was,
but it is
what it is
and what
it will be
.
.
.
(This was actually the last sentence in a response I wrote tonight on in a grad school assignment. I thought it made a rather intriguing little poem, so here it is).
poem-equal definitions February 26, 2015
love
≠
tolerance
dutiful service
.
love
=
tolerance
dutiful service
Shawn L. Bird 