Bald eagle
standing on turned over earth
Watching the cars go by on the highway
(or pretending to,
to give the small creatures
an illusion of safety).
Bald eagle
normally surveying
road and field from high above
is checking out a new perspective.
I wonder whether he prefers
dirt to sky?
A roomful
of opinions
opinions
opinions
everyone shouting
no one hears.
I think!
I believe!
I!
I!
I!
Wait!
Sit.
Listen.
Ask a question.
Listen to the answer.
Really listen.
Hear.
Think.
Learn.
Grow.
.
.
.
Another poem for the very inspiring Robin with whom I teach. So honoured to work in a school full of such amazing masters. So wonderful to watch kids learn how diverse our world is, how full of shades of grey, how their opinions aren’t the only ones in the world. 🙂
You’ve been waiting,
watching,
wondering,
but now
it’s time to act.
Stop planning,
scheming,
dreaming,
and do.
Face the task.
Make it happen.
Decide as you go along.
It’s time,
now.
I knew
though I waited for the words
and hoped through the years
that I was wrong
I knew
though I waited for the time
when you felt safe to tell me
or came to terms yourself.
I knew
though I waited silently
and didn’t tell a soul
I knew.
You call to me
like a fog horn,
insistent,
overwhelming,
but your light house beacon is dark
and I toss on stormy seas
unable to find your sanctuary.
I lost a poem today
It came to me, a shy friend
and whispered in my ear
such beautiful words.
I savoured them
and rolled them on my tongue
but before I could make a
penned permanence
of friendship
it flitted away,
leaving loss
and longing
in its place.
I wanna be
that person who is fit and trim
so I buy the health magazines and plan to get a gym membership.
I wanna be
that person who is literate and up to date with the latest trends
so I buy the literary journals and plan to read them.
I wanna be
that person who travels the world
so I buy the suitcase and send for the passport.
I wanna be
that person with the spotless house
so I buy cleaning products and sign up for email de-cluttering reminders.
I wanna be
that person
but until I actually take real action,
no purchase or plan can create the identity
I wanna be.
.
.
.
(Some of these are true desires, some of wishful thinking, and some are part of my real life. I’ll leave it to you to figure out which!) 😉
Night breathes
its peace in
shimmering air
dusted with winter.
.
Night breathes
its silence in
rustling wishes
between sheets.
.
Night breathes
an invitation in
a lingering look
over the shoulder.
.
Night breathes
a promise in
peace,
silence,
invitation.
Wafting on the cool wind
as I plow through the snow to the car
comes the heavy scent of roses.
I look for the source without success
as the air is saturated with summer
in frosty winter:
Perfumed paradox.
What wasn’t
When she opened her eyes
Was what she’d wished for
For so long
That wishing was all she had.
What was
When she opened her eyes
Was what she’d been blind to
For so long
That wishing was all she’d had.
Shawn L. Bird 