Shawn L. Bird

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

poem-should it be that way? May 10, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:23 pm
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It was a suicide.

Two weeks have passed.

“The funeral is today.

Or. Not a funeral.  A celebration of life.”

Matter-of-fact voice.

How many times had intention

shown him this path?

That prescription the only protection

against this road.

“Would you like me to come with you?”

Translation:

Let me watch you in this crowd.

See if I can read your mind.

“No. I’m going to stand. It’ll be crowded.”

Did he know,

so many people would want to be there?

Did he know,

so many people cared?

Or was he counting on them,

covering for him when

he wasn’t there?

Two paths forking off this road,

wives watching the journey,

or buried by it.

 

 

poem-they’re all the same May 6, 2019

Filed under: Poetry,Teaching — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:15 pm
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Pick up any yearbook

any place

any year.

Turn the pages,

you will recognize them.

That one:

always so friendly.

That one:

forever in trouble.

That one:

so cool.

That one:

Oh! The music!

That one:

skipped more than attended

That one:

kept you up nights,

worried about wise choices

safe places.

Any yearbook,

familiar faces,

each so unique,

every one the same.

 

Poem- Someone tells you April 29, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:47 pm
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How do you find

the magical opportunity that transforms you?

How do you find

the courage to release your words

trust your ideas

show your vision.

How do you find

those places, waiting for you?

 

poem- celebration April 21, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:40 pm
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Gathering

pretend belonging

watch for signs of genuine affection

play the game,

be the same,

absorbing affectations

whispered longings

Gathering

connection.

 

poem-powerless April 16, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:46 pm
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I weep

for the fools who believe lies and hand power

to the deceivers, whose actions cry, “Destroy

me, please!  Give

me, me, me what you promise!”

and then blame those

who try to keep giants from grinding fools into the ground,

while fools bless them for the feet

upon their heads.

 

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- tossing April 4, 2019

Filed under: Poetry,poodles — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:24 am
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I toss.

You race.

You leap.

You flip.

You pant.

You return

on a joy-fueled frenzy

for the fun of the chase.

To vicariously share your bliss,

I toss.

.

.

(Just in from a supremely athletic game of fetch- with a Chuckit Flying Squirrel. Now a happily exhausted poodle is at my feet.  I once saw a Ziggy cartoon that said he just wanted to go to dog heaven and toss balls for eternity. I sometimes feel like that is already my prime raison d’etre according to Kiltti!  How about you? Do you play a lot of fetch?).  

 

 

poem- looking April 3, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:19 pm
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Year after year

smiling faces under glass.

So many smiles only a whisper of memory:

oh yes. I remember that one

and that one

and that.

But so many others

slipped out of mind,

phantoms who haunted our rooms.

Are they still hovering ghosts

watching life happening around them

or are they finally

corporeal?

 

Tangled April 2, 2019

Filed under: Poetry,Writing — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:09 am
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Be tangled in the words.

Weave yourself ability.

Knit a world.

Unravel negativity.

Crochet characters uncurled

Stitch together possibilities.

Wind yourself in words.

 

 

poem-truth and dare March 15, 2019

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:02 pm
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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.