Shawn L. Bird

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

Poem-Fire of you July 10, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:47 am
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This poem was written as a submission to the Burnaby Writers Society Poetry contest.  The theme was fire, and poets were encouraged to interpret the theme.  Still 2 months before winners will be announced.  

September 2011: This one was a contest finalist! Yay!

.

You reached

into the flames

and  plucked an ember

that glowed with

happiness and hope

upon your palm.

.

In the

wavering sphere

of gold and crimson

light, I glimpsed our

future in flickering

depths.

.

But when I reached to take it in my grasp

you clasped

your fist closed,

so the glow

of my hope

spilled

from

your

fingers.

.

“No,” you said.

“It will burn you.”

.

Truth scorched through

the kindness in your eyes, but could not

extinguish my anguish,

even as you wrapped me in your arms

and murmured worthless words of consolation.

.

I didn’t want your wisdom.

I wanted fire.

 

pieces of sky June 2, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:56 am
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Pieces of sky
fall upon flowers
and flatten summer.

Sky in pieces
weeping and whispering
bemoans gone sun.

Pieces of sky
crack away and fall
flaming to forest.

Sky in pieces
watching and waiting
passes in sighs
by peace.

 

Maybe May 28, 2011

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:13 am
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I’m just thumbing through my journal (a random collection of drafts, ideas, poems, lecture notes, etc) and discovered this poem:

Maybe
is a dangerous room
in which tolive.
A place to run
when here is too hard,
when now is a naked agony.
Then there is maybe…
maybe him
maybe someday
maybe
(though
probably not).

(2009-1-21)

 

I am an island April 22, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 8:53 pm
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I am an island.

Not like Simon’s

impenetrably tearless rock,

but one aimed at

by a ferry of tourists:

a welcome adventure,

a gathering of isolation

a mad mix of artists,

rolled into a village

surrounded by a sea

of civilization.

I am an island:

your escape,

our excuse.

I am.

 

missing you March 6, 2011

Filed under: Poetry,Pondering — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:26 pm
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I can not be
without you.

.

I can not
be without
you.

.

I can not be.

.

I am not me
without you.

.

I am not

me without

you.

.

I am not me.

.

I need

we

to be

us.

 

confusing life and love February 16, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:53 pm
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Daily Blog prompt #47  What Part of life confuses you?

 

.

What is the meaning of life?

to love and be loved

Nope that’s not confusing.

Why am I here?

To love and be loved

That’s not confusing.

Why do we have to learn this stuff?

Because you need to understand so you can

love and be loved.

That’s not confusing.

Why do bad things happen?

Some folks don’t know how

to love or be loved.

That’s not confusing.

What’s confusing?

Math.

It’s amazing how it orders the universe,

but it’s confusing.

except

my  love plus your love

multiplies into our love.

No confusion there.

.

This prompt really irritated me, because I don’t find many things confusing.  I tend to shrug off connundroms as unworthy of too much attention, since ambiguity is the nature of most situations and since one person’s confusion is another person’s complexity.   I suppose I have a rather simple philosophy.   After brewing over it all day, I stepped out of my car as I got home from work, and the light bulb pinged above my head illuminating one word: math.    As an English major, I never could figure out that higher level math stuff.  Math majors might find it complex, but not confusing.  For me, theoretical mathematics twist my brain in painful ways.  So here is my offering.  When things are too complex and confusing, simplify until you’re at the basic elements.  There it is: love.

 

people faces January 14, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:58 am
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I was just flipping through a book of writing from when I was in grade eleven and came across this poem.  It’s pretty typical 16 year old fare, but there are some big ideas here.  Worth sharing, I think.

.

Somewhere

Beyond the traffic and the city sounds

We exist in separate universes.

Pain in the hopelessness

Of the situation stirs, then quietens.

I want to blurt carelessly,

but contain myself

to casual renderings of brief words.

.

I was quiet,

I tried not scream.

I went as far as I could,

but I had to hold back something.

I almost gave everything

but you were holding back, and

I couldn’t give everything if you weren’t.

.

Nothing was comfortable.

We decided everything was my fault.

It wasn’t.

We share the guilt.

We should have tried to work it out.

But we didn’t and we walked away

Without pain.

.

Understand me?

Our peoople faces were still on

When we should have scraped them off.

.

.

(c) Shawn Bird 2011.  Original draft written 1981.

(***4A)

 

winter wind January 13, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:08 am
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Snow dances off my roof

wind weaves white ribbons of light

and holds aloft crystaline

 lace doilies.

 

monster fighting December 17, 2010

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:25 am
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Green monsters pounding down the street
Shooting fire and roaring their helplessness
Small kindnesses are not always mercies

since they don’t mean there is hope
They meant she didn’t care any more.

Green monsters stomping all over you
You could have been keeping a safe distance
Building armour and a fortness of protection for yourself.
Fortresses keep out monsters.
Now you’re weakened from the attack

But the tools are still there.
Build the protection now.
Better late than never to raise the bricks and the sword
so you can stand up for yourself.

You can defeat the monster.

 

Love is shovelling the driveway December 8, 2010

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:32 am
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The snow falls.
I push the shovel on the driveway
at half speed
missing you.

.

I miss listening to the
rhythmic racing
scrapes
across the driveway.

.
I miss you coming in
red from exertion,
frozen drips from your nose
your glasses frosted.
.

I miss kissing your cold lips
and wrapping you
in the warmth

of my thankfulness.