Blue sky
Slight breeze
Rocking of the lounge
Toss the dog’s ball
Feel summer approach.
Thunder in the south
Booming concussion shakes the land
Storm brewing
Run or
Hold fast?
poem-truth and dare March 15, 2019
Here is the true thing, my children.
It is dark outside.
There are beasts with teeth and claws,
prepared to rip and tear you into tiny bits.
Oh, yes, my children,
it is dark outside.
You must beware.
.
But come, my children,
here is another true thing.
There is light outside.
It glows from windows and from hearts;
it pulls what’s apart, together, wrapping gleaming strands
of hope, that shimmer if you look just so.
See?
There in your heart: a star!
Dare, my children, to shine.
It is dark outside.
You must
Be light.
poem- prep July 14, 2018
Beneath a cloudless blue sky
I feel the storm coming,
black clouds gathering.
Could they reflect black shirts?
I ponder,
seriously,
if I should be building false walls
to hide those who will be escaping tyranny.
I wonder,
if I am far enough from a border to avoid
occupation.
A century ago,
they didn’t understand the signs,
but now we do.
Those who read are the first removed
when the evil rises.
Do all those kids who demanded,
“Why do we have to learn this?”
remember that their teachers said,
“So you’ll see the signs.”
“So it will never happen again.”
“Remember, they elected Hitler;
“they heiled and fell for his lies,
“because they wanted to believe their superiority,
“wanted a scapegoat for their troubles.”
There can be no excuses.
Shall I buy bricks or drywall?
Where will I construct false bottoms?
Where will we hide in the resulting rubble,
when the jack boots stomp through?
Another cristelnacht, this time in New York?
The hammock swings its consolation:
It can’t happen here.
It won’t happen here.
How many said those words a century
ago?
How many grew to knowing the meaning
of fear?
poem-moment May 31, 2016
One moment,
red filled,
changes everything.
.
.
.
(Reading S. E. Hinton’s Outsiders with my class today, and ch. 4 definitely has a red-filled moment that changes everything…).
poem-danger February 29, 2016
It walks
behind you.
It coils
between your thoughts.
It surges
unexpectedly.
But you have power
to protect yourself.
Vigilance.
Faith.
poem- critics July 24, 2015
The ground squirrels have been offering endless entertainment
Daily theatre of gamboling fun with whistle accompaniment.
First I saw a lady with a trap
Then all the ground squirrels were gone.
End of the play.
Critics are deadly.
poem- talking April 16, 2014
Number one
occupational
health hazard for
flight attendants
is falling
during turbulance,
for hair stylists:
hair slivers,
for teachers
it’s vocal damage.
Today,
my throat concurs
and longs for Ricola
and honeyed tea.
Today,
teaching hurts.
poem-waiting in line March 11, 2014
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- danger November 20, 2013
Stepping across the street
you are in danger.
Driving to the grocery store
is more dangerous than
flying across the country.
Why then,
does leaving the bonds of earth
and taking to sky or sea
seem like braving great
danger?
.
.
I’m not afraid of flying, but I still hold my breath during those take off and landings! Off to another conference. This will be my 5th one this calendar year! I am learning about career education in BC.
Shawn L. Bird 