The Intimacy of What Is Pushing Me Forward
looking back – the twist in the neck –the click in the spine
–my shadows sticking out their tongues –stringy fears with a fear of scissors
spl—it
second shift face
untwist
face forward –
pain in my palm, red wetness
scissors
shhh_a_r_p
*Prompt from the League of Canadian Poets – Write about what is pushing you forward
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 