Last week I said yes to three jobs that would overfill my proverbial plate. Today I said yes to yet another. Why? Because poetry. In the last two days, I've read over 100 poems. Today, I listened to 17 brilliant high school students recite two poems each. That's another...um...math...34 more poems in my life. I'm… Continue reading Why I Say Yes
Accumulation
I've been gathering photos for you. Photos of things I've done...gathered...achieved...done to my skin. I've been accumulating things to tell you. Why has it taken so long to share these things with you? I don't know. Hesitation turned to later turned to tomorrow turned to now-it's-too-late. Why do I do that to myself? Why do… Continue reading Accumulation
Talking and Listening
The dishes are calling but I'm not listening. Cuss them. Today. Today I did a lot of talking. Like, a lot. Never underestimate the power of talking. Of having a conversation. Never underestimate the power of listening. Of being an integral part of a human-to-human exchange. Writers write and writers read, this is true. Absolutely. But… Continue reading Talking and Listening
VANESSA SHIELDS 