I can see your end, tough kid. Oh so, glib.
You’ll pick a fight, thump your mighty tiny chest,
find yourself arrested. That mouth will get you
an ankle bracelet in your house, or maybe
a solid punch from some drunk’s big fist
or a slice from a knife that puts you on a slab.
So sad. Too bad.
Hamartia, dude. That fatal flaw hot temper, you know?
Choices you make now could change how it goes.
Being tough is rough.
Choose a more mellow groove!
poem-to the bantam rooster October 28, 2022
poem- the end November 28, 2020
such a long time
in the making.
planned so long ago.
waiting.
injury
healing
tiny steps
tiny steps
tiny steps
make the journey
so
long
but here we are at
the
end.
.
.
.
August 2018 Nikolette Jones and I bantered out the plans for 3 Nikki Knox stories that I would write by August 2019. Unfortunately, August 28 I suffered a brain injury that meant time off work, therapy, and a long road of recovery. I have been dabbling for 2 years with the 4th book, and it is FINALLY finished! It is two years late, but it’s here at last! Nikolette is busy with the art and there will be a new, lovely Nikki Knox 4 book compilation out in the next few months! Yay! It’s so good to have a brain that’s working again.
.
.
.
.
.
poem-I came into myself November 4, 2020
After forty
came freedom.
No one relying on me
My dreams became
priority.
Embracing fun and beauty:
Shoes that make me dance
VW Bug that makes me laugh.
Writing stories and poetry,
then releasing them to readers.
Studying for that masters degree.
No one to stop me reaching.
No tethers constraining me.
After forty
possibility
became reality.
poem- seized April 8, 2020
Circles spinning
Words. Confusion.
Frustration.
Irritation.
and then
Enough.
Done.
Control taken.
Plans made.
Tension eased.
Creating manageable goals.
Autonomy seized.
poem- victory September 22, 2019
Small victory
multiplied.
Big tasks
divided
into
parts
so
small–
how could I not succeed?
Deadlines
focus goals.
Day by day,
Chew each bite thoroughly.
Done!
Launch hope with a key stroke.
Completion is victory enough,
but still…
Fingers crossed.
poem-you did it May 15, 2019
for Tai
.
You’ve always been a mountain climber.
Sometimes climbing means tumbling to the valleys.
Sometimes it means diving into sparkling mountain lakes
and becoming entangled with weeds
that pull you down.
Who knew you could drown while climbing?
You’ve always been a mountain climber.
Sometimes every part of you aches for a break,
longs for the plateau.
Rest.
But you keep climbing,
because sometimes, when you stand on the summit,
see the world laid out before you
a carpet of overcoming,
you see all the opportunity;
you see you can fly.
poem- little steps January 28, 2019
Great dreams.
Big hopes.
Massive endeavours.
Long journeys.
All large things
take little steps.
Bit by bit
bite by bite
step by step.
War and Peace
started with one word
on the page.
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
began with one note.
Huge
begins
small.
Just
begin.
poem-caveat emptor November 17, 2018
Let no further discussion
mar your sense of certainty.
Let no logic stir irrationality,
challenge responsibility,
force mutability.
Enough!
Sine pace.
Fix this!
poem-this moment November 6, 2018
This is not a test.
One chance.
One.
It all counts.
This is it.
Go.
poem-wandering August 7, 2018
It is
It isn’t
Round and round
I can!
I can’t!
You do
You don’t
and trying
trying
trying
doesn’t make it easier
to pull your broken brain away
from turbulance
I don’t know you anymore
I don’t like you anymore
Loyalty keeps me doing
because I promised him
and you can’t help being broken
I know.
It is
It isn’t
Time ticks by
I try
I try
I try.
Shawn L. Bird 