Shawn L. Bird

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

poem- walk for refuge February 8, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 2:32 pm
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During the election

we heard some American folks joke

If he wins, we’re moving to Canada!

and we laughed.

But

four hundred and ten

have really done it.

Last week alone

twenty-two

walked for frozen miles

in minus twenty Celsius

to cross the border

to freedom in

(really?)

Manitoba.

They lost fingers and toes to frost bite,

but not their lives to the sound bites

of a xenophobe.

.

.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/refugees-emerson-border-manitoba-1.3923747

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/refugees-frostbite-highway-75-winnipeg-1.3923430

 

poem- ominous February 7, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:50 am
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The sky could not be bluer

turquoise and ocean and bright summer day

captured on the snow piled like icing on the trees,

but on the horizon

a wall of charcoal grey

hints at a blizzard on its way.

I watch through the window and hope

I’m home before it hits.

 

poem- waiting February 3, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:16 pm
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The ground hog said spring was coming

but the snow falling outside my window

begs to differ.

 

poem-inaccurate January 31, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 11:37 am
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You hear a story

and cling to this narrative,

gripping each element as deep truth

fundamental reality

excuse for your frailty

But it’s fiction

and no matter how loudly you shout

your warped interpretation

insist that white is black,

it won’t transform into fact.

It will only dance to a rhythm of jack boots,

and the sounds of breaking glass.

 

poem-instructions January 25, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:41 am
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So much difficulty

is avoided

when we read the instructions.

If you don’t know what is asked

why do you try

to answer?

.

.

I’m marking exams at the moment and astonished at how often answers in no way reflect the question asked.

 

poem-unrecognizable January 24, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 3:06 pm
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You don’t even look like

the person I used to know, any more

I don’t know what’s happened.

Did you get taller somehow?

Ah

No.

We don’t do that

when we’re this age.

 

poem- believed me January 20, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 10:55 am
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I believed me

when I told myself I couldn’t do it.

I believed me

when I told myself nothing could be done.

I believed me

when I told myself nothing could change.

I believed me,

but I was wrong.

 

shrinkage January 12, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 6:26 pm
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Within old skin

undoing

rebuilding

becoming

rebounding

safe growing places

bright glowing spaces

 

this microcosm populated

by homunculi

stitching new skin.

 

 

poem- slow January 4, 2017

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 1:31 pm
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I’m moving through molasses

going slowly,

thinking like my thoughts are spilled ink

too dark to decipher.

Winter weather draws the sky closer,

closeting us in cloud,

so much white is blinding.

Days are short, but oh, so, slow

and cold.

 

 

 

poem- count down December 16, 2016

Filed under: Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 9:53 am
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We’re counting down now.

Hour by hour.

Minute by minute.

Escape’s almost in our power.