Picket signs
propped in front of us
we strike for a better world
either strolling the side walk
or strumming harp
or guitar.
A strike is like a barbeque
for a cause
fueled by coffee and doughnuts
instead of beer and beef.
poem- stand up June 19, 2014
“Why are teachers even bothering to picket,
when you aren’t getting strike pay any more?”
he asked.
I told him it was because teachers are moralists
who are defending democracy
and fair working & bargaining conditions
against a corrupt government:
A government that ignores the court rulings
spends billions of tax payers’ dollars appealing
judgments by the Supreme Court
and the United Nations saying they
are WRONG to steal from our kids.
It will pay billions for a stadium roof,
but will not pay for educating its children.
I told him that in such a war,
pay is a small thing.
We will fight, because if our government
succeeds in destroying OUR union
then every other working person in this province
is in peril.
If OUR contracts can be shredded with impunity,
so can YOURS!
We are fighting for YOUR rights
and for our students’ right to a properly funded education
against a government with an agenda
to destroy public education and the middle class.
We’re fighting for YOU! I told him.
“Oh,” he said.
poem- creek
From the bridge
I look down
upon the frozen creek
and see a red mitten
bobbing under the ice.
poem- old street June 18, 2014
The old man
who lived in
the corner house
with the red front stairs
always had
time to
listen.
harp tune- Skye Boat Song June 17, 2014
New and improved version of my arrangement of The Skye Boat Song for the double strung Brittany harp. That’s a Scottish clarsach style small harp you see behind me in the thumb nail. I even speak and show you the harp! 😉
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and here are my lyrics referencing Outlander. At some point I’ll record myself singing this, but G isn’t my singing key, so it’s a bit of a stretch!
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poem- doorbell
Sleeping in
enjoying dream embraces
of a book boyfriend when
the doorbell rings
with delivery of the next instalment
in the relationship.
poem- bird song June 16, 2014
From your hospital bed
you stare out the window
at the empty bird feeder
unaware that the chirping you hear
comes from your satellite radio.
poem- love sick
The dog has been slurping in the toilet
He saunters down the hall,
water dripping from his muzzle,
stops beside me, gazing adoringly,
and kisses my arm with long wet strokes.
As he flops to clean his privates,
I go off in search of soap.
poem- nestled June 15, 2014
I crawl between clean sheets,
inhaling crisp scent.
You snore softly on your side,
then reach out and pull me
against you, our ankles entangling,
fingers weaving together
your snores still filling the
dark, dancing with me
in your dreams.
Another milestone June 14, 2014
How exciting!
Today I passed one hundred fifty thousand visitors on the blog!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Shawn L. Bird 