Shawn L. Bird

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

poem- He’s sitting there beside her March 9, 2021

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:59 am
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I sit down across from them

meet his melancholy eyes,

give him a sad smile, whisper

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

He nods, glancing longingly at his wife

before I remember,

he’s the one

who’s gone.

.

.

(RIP Rob. Thanks for the dream visit).

 

poem-change in the wind February 10, 2020

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:05 am
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Each day I arrive here

Look around

and notice it feels less like home.

Remember laughter,

feel their dreaming,

it’s all still here,

but where are my desires leading?

Could this all be coming to a close?

Are talent, skills, and luck

coalescing into

something new?

 

poem- updating dreams November 21, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:14 pm
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Last night

you didn’t come as your youthful self,

my fun, faithful friend.

Instead, bald, broad, and bellied you asked,

your hard question against my thigh:

Why not?

Respect, I said,

Squeamish at your leer.

You lowered your voice to that super serious tone

I remember so well.

Really?

So much doubt.

Yes.

Really.

Even in my dreams I’m over this.

 

poem-living September 20, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:38 pm
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You drive away after a visit.

“He got his licence back!”

“That’s great for 101!”

“No! He’s 105 now!”

“and blind!”

Oh, dad.

Thanks for stopping by

to make me laugh

in dreams.

 

quote- Lady Gaga on tenacity March 3, 2019

Filed under: Quotations — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:58 pm
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In her 2019 Oscar acceptance speech, Lady Gaga said,

“If you are at home, and you’re sitting on your couch and you’re watching this right now, all I have to say is that this is hard work. I’ve worked hard for a long time, and it’s not about, you know…it’s not about winning. But what it’s about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. There’s a discipline for passion. And it’s not about how many times you get rejected or you fall down or you’re beaten up. It’s about how many times you stand up and are brave and you keep on going.”

 

poem- little steps January 28, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:43 pm
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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- dreamt October 10, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:07 am
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I was dreaming a poem,

consigning rhymes and arguing assonance.

This is the metaphor:

even my subconscious searches

for the words.

 

poem-circles October 24, 2016

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:52 pm
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I’m

circling

I’m

adding,

growing, and

learning.

I’m

becoming

the dream me

I see her

in

laughter

applause

award

I’m

circling

up to the prize

it’s closer

and

closer

with every

word.

.

.

I just came back from the annual Surrey International Writers’ Conference.  My first year there, I successfully pitched to a publisher.  My third time I successfully pitched to an agent.  When I first started attending, I admired the amazing writing of the winners of the $1000 Storyteller Award and the humorous writing by the winners of the 75 word Silly Write contest.  I dreamed of winning those contests. I’ve entered a couple of pieces 5 or 6 times over the years.  This year I didn’t have a project to pitch, but I submitted to both contests.  I was short listed for the Storyteller (3rd year in a row short  listed for a writing contest at SIWC!) and my entry came second in the Silly Write.  I was thinking “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.”  🙂  On the other hand, I feel the precipice I’m standing on- I am appreciating the fine line of difference between good and great.  

When several hundred people are laughing at your jokes and cheering when your name is called, you can’t help but feel inspired.  

You know how there comes a time when the craftsman requires particular tools to create true art? Because of the amazing craft workshops I attended (Donald Maass, Diana Gabaldon, Susanna Kearsley, Shari Green) and meal conversations (Larry Brooks, Nephele Tempest, Jack Whyte) I feel like I’ve been given the master tools that will make the difference to leap off the precipice and FLY.  I feel that intangible sense that things are about to change, and I’m excited!

 

poem- phantom cookies August 31, 2016

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:27 am
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In my dreams

two cookies appear on my plate

when I glance down

I have eaten one.

In dismay I think

I just won’t eat the other,

but next glance,

it is gone, too.

I think, how strange, I eat

without even noticing.

That’s a bad habit.

.

.

(39 days on the diet–twenty pounds down–apparently my subconscience craves cookies?)

 

haiku-dream March 26, 2016

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:51 pm
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Down the hall, I hear

the soft woofing of a dreaming dog,

but no dogs are here.

.

Is someone gleefully

chasing dream rabbits

at our B and B?

.

True story.  (Thin walls).

 

 
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