Shawn L. Bird

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

poem- Worshipping anger April 15, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:37 pm
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Your pain bursts out the barrel of a gun

punches holes through community

explodes small town security.

Neutrality’s a liar.

And in world news:

Notre-Dame Cathedral is on fire.

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My own photo, detail around the main entrance of Notre-Dame. Paris, 2011.

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My own photo. Notre-Dame tower details. Paris. 2010

 

A poem should stand on its own merits, but I feel like a bit of clarification this time.  There was a shooting in my small, Canadian town yesterday.  Two people were shot in their church; one died. Our community has been reeling from this shock, and now another tragedy.  The loss of life. The loss of a building.  Can you compare the two?

 

poem- dusting December 1, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:28 am
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Falling from the sky

in perfect crystals,

dusting trees, fields, and me

with peace of the season.

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Falling through the screen,

pixilated dots

dusting poetry

with peace of the season.

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(Every year on Dec 1, it begins to snow on my blog.  It makes me ridiculously happy every time!  If you would like snow to fall in your blog, add it in your settings.)

 

 

poem- heaviness September 24, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:05 pm
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The mist in the hills

weighs heavily on my heart

The wind through the valley

blows bleakly on my brain

The rain from the grey

drips doggedly on my dreams.

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It’s only Wed, but I am exhausted!  I’m sure this soggy weather isn’t helping

 

poem- tug me May 23, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:57 am
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The tiny vessel

zips around the floating logs

pushing them here and there.

Sorting them.

Guiding them to the mill piles.

Leading them to lumbering destiny.

And you,

zip around me

pushing me into order

sorting out my messes

guiding me to better decisions

leading into our future.

 

poem- sign May 22, 2014

Filed under: Poetry,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:26 pm
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Out front the high school

Each morning,

A man stands,

Bearing above his head a

One word pronouncement.

Watching parents leaving

Their children,

Teachers driving in,

He tilts his sign to catch

All eyes.

Morning after morning:

PRAYER.

Each day I ponder

His cryptic word.

Is it protest

or encouragement?

Prayer ?

for kids

   to be attentive?

   to do their homework?

   to embrace their learning opportunity?

   to have supportive homes?

Prayer for staff

   to be patient?

   to be available?

   to see what needs to be seen?

   to do what needs to be done?

It’s not such a terrible reminder,

for anyone,

whatever the motivation.

 

poem- alteration May 21, 2014

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:48 pm
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It begins

in awe

a stunned staring

with a grin that expands

from mouth to feet

’til even toes are smiling

with delight.

It grows

in time

as kindly sharing

expands experience

from then to now

’til familiarity leads

to comfort.

It rests

in fondness

warm embraces

transcending miles and

knowing paths will cross

again.

 

 

Poem-Okanagan Mountain Fire evacuation, August 2003 July 19, 2013

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:43 pm
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Shawn L. Bird

This was my second entry on the theme of fire for the Burnaby Writers Society poetry contest. One more month until winners are announced.  I played around with stanza parallelism here, sometimes using strict rhyme, sometimes consonance.  I had never seen this done before, so I was impressed with how well it worked.

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Okanagan Mountain Fire evacuation, August 2003

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Fears.
A crimson hill glows above.
High from here, grey clouded skies
shower us in ghosts of pine needles
that dissolve at my touch
into powdered ashes,
while I load the van with memories.

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Tears
Glisten, fill, flow out of,
My father’s grave, clouded eyes.
Cowering and aghast in pain, he huddles
and revolves as he’s nudged,
disempowered, ashen.
While I lead the man, his tremors ease.

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This poem was linked to the Poetry Potluck on the theme of history and events.  If you are visiting…

View original post 26 more words

 

Okanagan Mountain Fire evacuation, August 2003 August 9, 2011

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:37 am
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This was my second entry on the theme of fire for the Burnaby Writers Society poetry contest. One more month until winners are announced.  I played around with stanza parallelism here, sometimes using strict rhyme, sometimes consonance.  I had never seen this done before, so I was impressed with how well it worked.

.

Okanagan Mountain Fire evacuation, August 2003

.

Fears.
A crimson hill glows above.
High from here, grey clouded skies
shower us in ghosts of pine needles
that dissolve at my touch
into powdered ashes,
while I load the van with memories.

.

Tears
Glisten, fill, flow out of,
My father’s grave, clouded eyes.
Cowering and aghast in pain, he huddles
and revolves as he’s nudged,
disempowered, ashen.
While I lead the man, his tremors ease.

.

.

This poem was linked to the Poetry Potluck on the theme of history and events.  If you are visiting from the potluck, please include a direct link to your poem in a comment below.  Thanks!  It makes it easier for all participants that way.

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