sunday witness
the dogs lay on the hardwood, a blue braided rope toy between them, teeth-pressed, but sharing in a way so gentle, so love-pure that I feel an actual stab of pain in my heart and inside the moment, I feel the span of timelessness that binds us when we let ourselves be wounded by its sharp fact. and it is hard to do after this pain, after it pulses then dissipates then disappears because the fact of it scars, and the parts of myself who thrive on now-ing have another wound to leap over to get to my heart, to hold it, kiss it.
I WON THE LITERARY TITAN GOLD BOOK AWARD FOR POETRY!
I am overjoyed to share the news that I’ve been awarded the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Poetry! I am among a stellar group of poets awarded this achievement. It feels amazing to get a gold star! And the stickers are on the way! Golly, it’ll be something to put them on the covers!! Yahoo! It’s a dream come true. I’ve been yearning (angering, hoping, praying, mourning!) for a book award since 2011 when I had my first book published! It feels incredible to be cared for in this way! And, after a five-star review from the Literary Titan team, this award is like a long embrace! Thank you, Literary Titan! Thank you friends and family, I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without your love and support! We did it!
VANESSA SHIELDS 