It should be dark.
The sun is down.
Moon glow illuminates
a snow glazed world.
Silent night.
Holy light.
poem- picking light August 30, 2019
For Jordie
She sees it on the floor
reaches for the white spot:
light.
Three times the lights calls her.
Three times she reaches.
Three times she rolls her eyes.
She doesn’t need to pick up light,
it already glows within her,
touches everyone she knows.
Her light is kindness;
it’s overflowing,
and dripping on her floor.
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-light May 30, 2017
You’re a beacon, baby
Oh yeah.
You flicker like a flame
and I come to you.
I’m a lost ship.
I’m a moth.
You’re a candle
when the power’s out.
You’re a flashlight
slicing through the night.
You’re a beacon, baby.
Bring me home.
.
.
.
Hmm. Sounds like it wants to be a song, doesn’t it?
poem- golden October 19, 2016
We wind through shadows
shimmering within touching distance of cloud,
and you appear,
golden valley
illuminated like a glimpse of heaven,
glistening beauty in the morning glow.
Shadows driven away,
by hope for this new day.
poem-blue January 16, 2016
Outside, in the twilight
the world is black and blue,
like a sun bleached wrapper,
yellows and reds leached away.
Just an old wrapper,
a ghost of its former brightness,
as is this day, lightness fading
blue.
poem-compassion December 3, 2015
She said, compassion is a light.
It attracts those in darkness who then devour it.
Oh what a sad and bitter theory!
No.
Compassion is a fire that burns freely
and radiates warmth and comfort to those who draw near.
Fuel for compassion is love and contentment, which renews the fire regardless if anyone has gathered to enjoy the heat.
Compassion can not be taken, it can only be given;
it is the essence of its fuel.
No one who is truly compassionate can be bitter,
because bitterness is the antithesis to love and contentment.
poem- The Light Returns February 21, 2015
.
Through mourning,
the light returns
brushing softly
touching tenderly
with morning.
.
“The Light Returns” by Elaine Holmes
Charcoal on board 4X6 feet
From collection of J&S Bird
.
We just hung this large, stunning drawing in our house. Elaine Holmes is an artist and teaching colleague from down the road. I fell in love with the piece at an exhibition in the Salmon Arm Arts Centre called “Dark Nights” 10 artists celebrating the solstice. We’re delighted to own it! It just asked for its own poem. 🙂
poem- sunrise July 27, 2014
Look at that lovely pink sky.
Huh.
So that’s what a sunrise looks like.
Looks like it’s time
I went to bed.
poem- dark road March 20, 2014
When the road is dark
illuminated only be the narrowest of beams
look above to the sparkling canopy of stars
and ahead to the distance glow
and know
illumination is out there.
Shawn L. Bird 