Poetry: Robert Lashley

“Boards occupy a space between the mind and

the construction of the temporal. Cadences.” R.Lashley

Robert Lashley Robert Lashley Robert Lashley

Lace covered lamp shade winks

As you walk toward the mic

Ceiling fan squeaks approval of your presence

Coffee shop poets snap anticipation

As your hand finds your poem

In a notebook of poems

Noble Prince of Poetry

Royal Performer of Words

National Manager of Thoughts

Country Jester of Meters

Fair Dancer of Rhythms

My Robert, dear Robert,

Your words are like a UFO

Sky chariot swooping down

To take Elijah home to the heavens

You pick us up and take our minds

To another place

To a new place

To a place, we did not know exist,

Nor did we ever want to go there, until now

Robert Lashley:

Please walk that cocky walk to the mic

Please look over your book at us

Wondering if our minds are ready for

The mind-whooping we are about to receive

Please take more than three minutes

And please, please, share one – more – poem

Royal Robert, Prince of Poetry

You are a rock in the river

Dividing it left and right

Changing the way it flows

On its way to a very big ocean

***

*you can hear Robert Lashley most Monday nights at Poetry Night, 7:30

at the Black Drop Coffeehouse, 300 West Champion Street

Published by Shannon Laws

Shannon Laws is an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Her work has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies, and she has captivated audiences at esteemed literary events, including the Jack McCarthy Evergreen Invitational Slam, SpeakEasy, Poetry Night, Kitchen Sessions, and the West Coast Tagore Festival. Beyond her writing and performances, Shannon actively fosters literary and artistic communities. Since 2022, she has curated Corridor, a monthly “found-art” zine project that showcases the work of more than 50 contributing poets and artists. She is also the founder and host of Poetry Club, an engaging discussion group established in 2015. View more posts