Shawn L. Bird

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

poem-bringing gifts January 17, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 5:26 am
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So many criteria
for a deceptively simple task.
Light weight
. useful
.  fun
.   full to over-flowing with love
Small tokens are all I can
pack in a bag
Only miniscule metaphors for my
immeasurable gratitude.
What gift is enough?
Oh, what can
I bring?
.

.

.

This spring I’m off to do a couple of writing retreats and visiting friends and family from my times as a exchange student, yay those many years ago. Since I only travel with a carry-on, regardless of the length of the stay, I have limited room for all the gifts I want to bring.  >>sigh<< I’m hoping my trip to the Fabric store will meet assorted needs. Wish me luck!

.

.

.

.

..


 

poem-cold memories January 16, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:17 pm
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When Pluto was a planet
You cleared your neighbourhood
Scooped all the negativity
Flung it to far reaches
You spun in your orbit
So well rounded.
We wanted to come along
But your journey is long
and oh, so cold.
Where you are looking
impacts what you see.
I’m looking at you.
You’re not looking at me.
Now Pluto’s a dwarf planetoid
because it doesn’t bring friends
on its journey,
like staying along is what a
far out, cold planet wants.
Remember when Pluto was a planet
and there was a we.

 

poem-Quiet words January 15, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:57 pm
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There the wind blows
So softly sliding past
Trees,
tremulous,
speak,
susurrus over the snow
. Listen
.  Listen
.   Listen
Wind whispers wishes
. Be well
.  Be well
.   Be well.

 

poem-winter steps January 14, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:14 am
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The hearty souls maintain
their exercise programs
as the temperatures plummet.
–no bad weather
. only bad clothes!
They’ll walk with spike studded boots
. or snowshoes
They slide along on skis
minus five
minus ten
minus fifteen
minus twenty
minus twenty-five
minus thirty
Such dedicated athletes!
I am not so dedicated to fresh air.
I’m dancing in the living room
waving my arms around
sweatin’ to the oldies
getting in my daily steps
while watching warmly from my window
at those hearty cold souls.

 

poem-winter dusk January 10, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:10 pm
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Snowplough scraping as it passes

Candles flickering in evening dim

Snowflakes falling outside our windows

A perfect evening to stay in.

 

poem-As Once Agreed January 5, 2024

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:04 am
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I will write you a poem
full of emotion
. overflowing with good words.
Do you feel it? All I mean
. to say?
Words of longing–
. Oh! The passion!
. Woe. The loss.
I will write you a poem
. then I will hide it
. deep within, where all the
. best poems
. linger.

 

poem-Checking my Privilege November 27, 2023

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:24 pm
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Some shriek to preserve history
But ah! Consider the mystery
of that illusion of one side’s victory.
What happened to the voices
silenced by the cruel choices
of the victors? Can we rejoice
that now we all should see
language impacts democracy?
We can create a society
where majority
respects minority
and lifts us to meliority.

 

poem- This is just to say November 13, 2022

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 7:45 pm
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(with apologies to William Carlos Williams)

.

This is just to say

I have eaten
The last
of the tortilla chips

I know you
Were saving them
For a bedtime snack

But like you
they were salty
And so delicious.

How could I resist?

 

poem- When I met his eyes November 4, 2022

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:16 am
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(Sometimes the breakdown of a relationship is not a surprise to folks watching from the outside).

.

When I met his eyes

.

I saw into the depths

saw his emptiness

unfaithfulness.

He knew I knew

His fake jokes couldn’t mask

the pain he’d cause.

He looked away,

alarms his charms didn’t sway me.

I could see.

They believed

his false smile

piled on adoration

while he crafted

mutual ruination.

She

has strength beyond

will rebuild,

move along.

 

poem-to the bantam rooster October 28, 2022

Filed under: poem,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:47 am
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I can see your end, tough kid. Oh so, glib.
You’ll pick a fight, thump your mighty tiny chest,
find yourself arrested. That mouth will get you
an ankle bracelet in your house, or maybe
a solid punch from some drunk’s big fist
or a slice from a knife that puts you on a slab.
So sad. Too bad.
Hamartia, dude. That fatal flaw hot temper, you know?
Choices you make now could change how it goes.
Being tough is rough.
Choose a more mellow groove!