Before The Book Is Born - Part I in a straightjacketmy soul treadsback & forthdiagonal & circularpaths eroding thefloor of my Belonging she bangs her headagainst steel wool wallswon’t eatwon’t drink can’t sleepfor the lunatic lyricsmean melodies tothe Songs of Fearceaseless in the spacelike poison I do not belongcarved in a cornerfrom before Love watches waits Linda… Continue reading Poem 16 – Before The Book Is Born Part I
Author: Vanessa Shields
Writer. Mother. Lover.
Poem 15 – Amaryllis II
Amaryllis II I kiss the white waist of her petal closestto my face after I open the curtainsin the living room In response she arches into my cheekwe both smile Then in the kitchenon the crumb-sweateredcutting board – a wishbone in waitdried for weekscrusted in muscle I pick it upconsider the act of a two-persontradition reducedto one Consider the consequence oftesting fortune… Continue reading Poem 15 – Amaryllis II
Poem 14 – New Moon Mediation – The Mountain Goat
New Moon Meditation - The Mountain Goat I envision a mountain goatIt is maleA worn copper bellhangs under his chinHe has buck teethbright white like Chicletsstartling blue eyes a smile that lifts moreon the right than on the lefta laugh hides under hisbottom lip The mountain goat eats rootsMy rootsPlunged deeply in thecentre of the earthHe… Continue reading Poem 14 – New Moon Mediation – The Mountain Goat
Poem 13 – A Conversation Piece That Comes to a Head
A Conversation Piece That Comes to a Head*For Charis Off to Denmark we gofor a visit with John Dillermand(aka John Wienerman)A man clad in a red & white striped bathing suit (the tank topshirt & shorts kind)He often sports a purple & yellowtuque atop his head & hisbright blue eyes & bushy blackmustache round out a… Continue reading Poem 13 – A Conversation Piece That Comes to a Head
Poem 12 – Tuesday AM (plus a bonus)
Tuesday AM This morning is carnelian and coffeeNavy tights and burgundy leg warmers It is vintage Santas waving at grey cloudsTypewriters holding worlds of stories in their keys In the photo on the corner of my deskNonna’s gentle blue-green eyes are singing To The Poems I Start When I’m Falling Asleep My apologies!You are important.… Continue reading Poem 12 – Tuesday AM (plus a bonus)
Poem 11 – Hearing Aid
Hearing aid I haven’t heard thebluejay gossip or thesquirrel shout ordersin weeks Could be my earshave stopped hearingcertain sounds – thoughthe second handthe dog sighthe boiling waterslapping againstthe belly of the kettleare very loud Maybe it’s the stormof grey Nows tumblingover themselvesgathering the Bleakbefore they finally fall flattenplace their throbbingheads down rest Perhaps the robinwill… Continue reading Poem 11 – Hearing Aid
Poem 10 – Remnants of my Saturday Morning Dream
Remnants of my Saturday Morning Dream The old victorian houseis perfectly ricketycontent in the stateof itself shifted andunevened over time In the streets around herpanic – human mayhemworse than termites in woodor bees behind a wallyet the same in theirbuzzing destructionto exist In the sky – translucentblack orbs floating toconcrete and mudthe stepping out ofholograms… Continue reading Poem 10 – Remnants of my Saturday Morning Dream
Poem 9: Orbit
Orbit for Miller There is noseparationbetweena sun and her rays I orbit the planet familyfour humans two caninesfood shelter waterbooks film art When I wrap myselfaround her shiningtickle her wristsmell her skinI tell herI hope big love greetsyou every morningIt will she says it will In this orbitI am curled indevotedsmallyet each breath inis a… Continue reading Poem 9: Orbit
