Dear friends, I have begun an extraordinary career and life shift. I have made three critical choices: I am no longer Poet Laureate. I resigned in mid-September. There was no grand announcement, no press release. In an effort to maintain my creative integrity and explore this very different, very exhilarating new career path, I chose… Continue reading Three Life Changes, a Letter
Tag: Gertrude’s Writing Room
Poem 341-Octopus & Gertrude’s Writing Room Open House #shoplocal
Octopus Today I Am Octopus8-Limbed3-HeartedBlue-blooded Water AlienGliding Across Ground Above & Below Such Suction-Heavy Solitary Living IsSoul Saturation Under The InfluenceOf Moon & Her Feisty Phases I Do Not Digress Rather Spread MyTenacious Tentacles & Embrace TheCurrent Of My Ink-Brimming Brain Today I Am OctopusI Do Not Wait For DreamsWhen I Can Hold 8 At… Continue reading Poem 341-Octopus & Gertrude’s Writing Room Open House #shoplocal
Poem 256 – One Thing At A Time & Reminders
One Thing At A Time Hear the alarmSnooze itFinish the bizarre dreamHear the alarm againSit upRub eyesHear the soundtrack fade inThe symphony of wakingThe crackle of electricityThe churn of marrowThe waft of bloodThe moan of muscleAll this and more ledBy multiple conductorsVoices like batonsGuiding lyrics into now Do thisThen thisEven though it feels like moreIt… Continue reading Poem 256 – One Thing At A Time & Reminders
Poem 208 – Morning Flower
Morning flower my motivation remainscurled up in bedthe sleep fog didn’tdissipate in the showerI’m holding this pen weird‘cause my fingersaren’t fully awake words are weaklike water-heavy teanearly tastelessbut the heat –the heat gives comfort& remedy to trust thatI will open soon enough feel the day vibrate my toes& dance like a morning flowerin love with… Continue reading Poem 208 – Morning Flower
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 