Spool cursive sentencesconnected by sighswhen pulled & stretchedcould roll into the world’slargest spool –worry-wood wrappedin the thread of my living I miss her such a collision of soundsthese letters of undoingspell my story of stitcheshemming edges thatdesire an end beyondthis body
Poem 227 – Onion
Onion an onion from the gardenpushes purple into a sea of vibrant red tomatoes so ripe they’re splitting open the onion – looks like an onionsmells like an onionlayers like an onion but it is not fully grown beside the tomatoes an onion leans toward sunlight lashing outon the kitchen counter I am the onion leaning toward the light for… Continue reading Poem 227 – Onion
Poem 226 – Float
Float Inspired by ‘Float on your Back A While’ pg. 35, The Purity of Desire 100 Poems of Rumi, translated by Daniel Ladinksy with Nancy Owen Barton I go to Rumi for guidancegather his words over my heartpushing faith through my skinbeseech him – Tell me, friend, how do I live this poet life? Float… Continue reading Poem 226 – Float
Poem 225 – Eight Ball
Eight Ball on a whimI palm the magiceight ballask: will I everget an agent? the rush of hot hopethe tightening of desperationmakes my torso smaller blue bubbled liquidreveals the whitepyramid of magicin the smallwindow ofthe ball’s belly: FOCUS & ASK AGAIN
VANESSA SHIELDS 