Pools Conca Verde Srl, Italy, 1996* Zia Silvana wears fairytale-apple red onher lips a black bathing suit, her breastsheave in the dazzling sun. The pool stretchesbefore me, an Italian dare. Hundreds ofpeople gather on a perfect summer afternoonat the waterpark as my stomach stormswith anxiety. Barriers like bricks on chainstied to my throat: can’t speak… Continue reading POEM A DAY – July 4
Tag: travel
POEM A DAY – March 12
Travel Memory In a minivan on the interstate driving to Maine.My boyfriend drives, my mother sits in the passenger seat.Me and my sister take the middle seats, and the cousin visiting from Italy sits in the back. I was seventeen…eager and horny, angry when my momwouldn’t let me and the boyfriend sleep in the same bed.At… Continue reading POEM A DAY – March 12
Poem 240 & 241 – Well, It Happened & Early Morning on the 401
Well, It Happened… After a pretty sound sleep & rising before the sun,it hits me like a dropped book on the hardwood floor –I forgot to write a poem yesterday!And I blame Harry, Hagrid, Hermione & Hogwarts.I blame the big comfy chair, buttery popcorn, sleepy time tea& polka dot jammies.After 239 poems written240 slipped into… Continue reading Poem 240 & 241 – Well, It Happened & Early Morning on the 401
VANESSA SHIELDS 