Poetry | Shawn L. Bird

poem-snow day January 6, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:52 am
Tags: BC, home, poem, poetry, school, snow, snow day, snow storm, students, teachers

It snowed

and snowed

and snows

and snows.

The radio announces

the school districts are cancelling school.

The radio announcers laugh

at how happy the kids are to have extended vacation.

Meanwhile the teachers

text one another messages that always end,

“YAY!”

.

Living in Canada, we’re used to snow. We have the equipment and infrastructure to clear it. As a result, neither as student nor teacher had I experienced a “snow day” before. Sometimes when we lived north in Prince George, BC if it was below -40 C (or F they’re the same at that temperature) the buses wouldn’t run, but schools were still open and teachers were expected to be there. It started snowing Saturday, January 3rd and then it kept snowing Sunday and Monday. Yesterday (Monday) at 9 pm 20 inches (51 cm) had accumulated on our back deck. The snow clearing machinery couldn’t keep up. The side roads were plugged. Cars were stuck all over the place. Because plows were clearing roads, they couldn’t clear school parking lots. So school was cancelled! Yesterday and today!

Yesterday I used the time to do some reading I didn’t get to over the holiday, because I was finishing work on my latest novel project, While I Was Out. Last night, just when the second closure was announced, I got the syllabus and links for my latest Masters class in my email. This class is delivered online. So! Lucky me, I get five bonus hours to work on my course. That makes today a professional development day for me. 🙂

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poem-awkward January 5, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:08 am
Tags: couple, definition, multiple meaning, poem, poetry, relationship, trouble

He needs a bed,

and she has one,

so she welcomes him to it,

and he lies.

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poem-wishes January 4, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 4:54 pm
Tags: couple, expectation, poem, poetry, relationship

She wishes

he were the sort of man

who wears a fedora

with his jeans,

but has learned not

to expect so much

from a farm boy.

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poem- almost January 3, 2015

Filed under: Poetry,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:15 am
Tags: amwriting, editor, manuscript, poem, poetry, process, work in progress, writing

When you think

that you’re finished,

that all the Ts are crossed

and the Is are dotted,

that every word is brilliant,

that the reader will be on the edge

of her seat from first page to last,

then you submit your work to your editor,

Who shows you

that you’re wrong.

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poem-choosing January 2, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:46 pm
Tags: collection, picking, poem, poetry, pruning, publication, repetition, rhyme, selection, weeding

I sift and skim

reflecting:

Are you strong enough?

Are you fresh enough?

Words combined and aligned

into sensation and celebration

Are you vibrant enough?

Are you true enough?

I sift and skim,

selecting.

.

Today I am working through a collection of poetry that’s been sorted once by theme, then by non-poets for accessability. Now I’m trying to find the very best to submit for publication. I have to weed out half. It’s a challenge! I feel sad for the ones I pitch. 😉

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poem- palettes January 1, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:43 pm
Tags: metaphor, personification, poem, poetry, rhyme, winter

Today’s sight

is a palette of black and white.

Today’s dichotomy

will be tomorrow’s

possibility

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poem- new to you December 31, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:23 pm
Tags: alliteration, challenge, consonance, growth, internal rhyme, learning, metaphor, new year, poem, poetry, repetition, struggle

Whatever is tied up in this gift

unwrap it joyfully.

Pull out difficulty, challenge, and struggle;

laugh at the lessons you’re learning.

Celebrate what has been and what will be

Celebrate what is now and what will be

Celebrate you.

Celebrate me.

Celebrate

what

will

be.

Each day is a gift

New for you to

Celebrate.

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poem-ready

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:45 am
Tags: alliteration, assonance, challenge, character, consonance, metaphor, poem, poetry, protagonist, struggle, victory, writing

She’s reached the end of her rope

and she’s swinging hard,

pumping her legs for maximum height,

fury fueling her flight.

She’s aiming for the edge

she’s leaping into space

and she’s grabbing on the way down.

When she lands,

she’s crushing injustice beneath her feet.

and throwing up her hands,

in victory.

.

Been editing tonight. Just getting to the end of the story, when the downtrodden heroine seizes power… 😉

Comments (8)