Shawn L. Bird

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

poem-when May 29, 2018

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:56 am
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(An early Father’s Day poem)

.

When I was little

your face was behind a camera

capturing moments of my small life,

fearlessly climbing the steps on the tallest slide,

thigh high stretches for a toddler,

far above your head,

not afraid;

no pain had touched me.

Your greatest gift was security

to grow up confident in your love.

No one else ever loved me so well

or with such shameless devotion.

Oh, how great my loss.

When I miss you,

as I often do,

my memories are lit with

gratitude,

gratitude,

gratitude.

 

poem-small June 14, 2016

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:36 pm
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Onyx eyes,  black beads,

glisten with wishes,

please take the gift,

toss gently, I’ll retrieve.

It’s only time between us;

you are almost all I’ve known of love,

though you may grieve

for what has been before;

I am now, and while I’m still small,

you’re all I want and need.

With time between us,

your love for me will grow.

 

 

poem-promise September 29, 2015

Filed under: Friendship,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:35 am
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Those childish promises

made with fervent belief

prove the power of intention:

Fealty sworn with hooked pinkies

in confident conviction.

 

poem-sculpting August 10, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:45 am
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I’m sculpting an image of you

molding and twisting clay into your likeness.

You emerge from mud as a miniature relief

and I sigh that I remember your face at all.

I’m sculpting you, creating who I wish you were

You emerge determined to be yourself,

no matter my intentions.

In the end, clay is inadequate for both of us.

 

poem- quiet voices July 1, 2015

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:34 pm
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I didn’t hear you

and you slipped past

your whispers only faint murmurs on the wind

less than the burbling susurrus of the river.

I heard shrieks and giggles,

running feet and splashing laughter;

I didn’t hear you.

 

poem- dark wishes December 17, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:02 pm
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In darkness

her wishes are simple:

No steps in the hall

no hovering hand

no panting breath

no pain.

In darkness

she wishes in vain.

 

poem- silent November 13, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:42 pm
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You sit

silently

staring  at your lap.

Your face

reflects sorrows

you will not describe.

Silence

is your

only safe

place.

 

poem- sticks November 4, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:30 am
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As they approach

your relaxed droop stiffens

your body tightens

each cell constricting.

You’re too old for

oppositional defiance

yet you shiver with it.

“Myself!” I hear your

two year old self echoing

through the decades.  “No!”

But look,

this is a time of change,

and nothing changes without effort.

You have experts at your fingertips

and you refuse support and aid

because

Why, exactly?

You were so ready to fly,

and you’ve gone so far,

but now you’re quivering beneath the nest

while the parents flap about squawking

about winter migration,

and that cat on the porch.

You heedlessly tuck you head

beneath your wing

to nap.

 

poem- small October 11, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:27 am
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You were so very small

pulling your limbs inside yourself

wearing a vacant scowl,

trying to turn yourself inside out

to avoid notice,

when we were all there

for you.

So much trauma to hide from.

so many layers of armour.

Will we ever see you drop the ballast

so you can fly?

.

.

Probably a few too many metaphors here, but the sentiments hold true.  May have to work on this one a bit more.

 

poem-fathers October 5, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:23 pm
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I grew up

a pampered princess

a late life arrival, long desired.

I felt my father’s

fondness every day-

a travelling salesman

who never missed a moment

of my active life.

But you

lost your father

along the way, lost sight

of him over the barriers

your mother built between you.

What was it like to find him

as he was dying, knowing

he had never stopped

loving you, though you

were equally lost to him?

Once you found him,

he slipped into eternity.

As I watch you, so

polished at your work,

on this career high,

I wonder,

Are you still a lost boy?

Or did the chance to embrace him

at the end of his life,

to know how proud he was of you,

help ease the sorrow

as you set him free to fly?

I forgive you

for not meeting me for tea

And I wonder,

what kind of father

will you let yourself be?

.

.

(For S&D)

 

 
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