Shawn L. Bird

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

poem- beginning March 13, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:53 am
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Remember

city lights

blinking in the lake

your arms wrapped,

us enraptured.

You and I

embracing the mystery

of intimacy,

creating a history,

trusting the future,

facing dreams, and

dreaming of reality

enfolding before us:

Laughter, longing,

lasting love

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The anniversary of our engagement is approaching, so here’s a poem in honour of the guy who’s had my back for 60% of my life.  Look at how cute we were on that romantic evening!  😉  (Trust me that there are city lights reflected in the lake behind us.  I had a pretty crappy camera!)

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engagementphoto

 

poem- offering March 12, 2014

Filed under: Poetry,Teaching,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:06 pm
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You bring your words to me

an offering

held in your open palms

like a supplicant.

I meet your fearful eyes

and tell you of your strengths,

coach through your weaknesses,

and encourage your improvement,

as gently as I can.

You reward me with your laughter,

a sound so rare that I am still celebrating

hours later,

so thankful

to be your teacher,

and have the chance to watch

your talent turn you into the

accomplished person

you will be.

 

poem-waiting in line March 11, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:21 pm
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Another car

goes ice dancing

swirling

spinning

from one side of the road to the other

Sending inhabitants flying

in the death spiral.

Stop! Accident scene!

and I must wait

First in line

While 3 ambulances

2 fire trucks

2 marked police cars

4 unmarked police cars

and 2 tow trucks

sort everything out

45 mins late for work

this morning

but thankful

not to be

in one of the ambulances.

I was doing that

ice dance in the same place yesterday.

One moment we are travellers

the next we are dancers

facing a sudden stop

and a different journey.

 

 

 

poem-grounded March 10, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:06 pm
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Bald eagle

standing on turned over earth

Watching the cars go by on the highway

(or pretending to,

to give the small creatures

an illusion of safety).

Bald eagle

normally surveying

road and field from  high above

is checking out a new perspective.

I wonder whether he prefers

dirt to sky?

 

poem-spring melt March 9, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:54 pm
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The snow is melting!

I hear water tumbling like a waterfall

dripping into pool.

Cascading down my window blinds

puddling inside my door.

The snow is melting!

and I need a new roof.

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poem- trim time

Filed under: Poetry,poodles — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:06 am
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Your toe nails

echo in the hall like

a cavalcade of snare drums.

Thundering timpanic tribulation

of tip tapping echoing through my brain,

draining me of peace.

Your toe nails

four times four feet times two

(two square roots of feet)

Are a private percussion section

depriving me of sleep.

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I need to trim the dogs’ toe nails.

Arg.

 

poem- blinded March 8, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:22 pm
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Nearly 100 years old

Macular degeneration stolen sight

Ears failing

trapped in a blurry, muzzy world

When I am his age

will the genetics he passed along

place me in his world?

Will I be able to do what I love without sight or sound?

So I practice

typing this poem without my glasses.

Hoping for the best

like aging.

 

poem- quilting world March 7, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:29 am
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The lake is charcoal flannel serge

bound with an ermine edge

beneath a quilt batting sky.

 

 

poem- truth about pink shirts March 6, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:57 am
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On anti-bullying day

five students are in the office

for having a fist fight

in their pink shirts.

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I have a love/hate relationship with Anti-bullying Day.  First, because anything that’s ‘anti-‘ or ‘not’ the brain skips the adverb, and latches onto the verb- so they’ll see ‘bullying day’ as revealed in this poem.  I’d much rather the day promoted positive action than decrying negative action.  Say what you want to see.  Put those words out there: Be kind day!  Smile at a new kid day!  Bite your tongue before you speak day! etc.

Further to this, you might enjoy last year’s Pink shirt poem, which features Shane Koyzcan’s infamous “To This Day” poem/ youtube video

 

poem- march away! March 5, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:42 am
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Winter

marching

heavily through spring.

Winter

march

away,

and take

all this falling snow

with you.

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Heavy snow today, making the highway treacherous.  Fun drive to work.  We’re ready for less white and more warmth in the air!