Poetry Day Camp

Posted byShannon LawsPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , ,
Saturday, I went to a poetry day camp taught by a well known poet here in Bellingham. Went in support of a friend and I’m surprised at the poems that came out of the day, well, not TOO surprised.Poetry is a personal art, an intimate process.  To write poetry in a group setting creates conflicts in my mind regarding acceptance, insecurities in presenting work not polished, and sharing my life with strangers.  Believe it or not, these are all good energies that will spark new creativity!

I’ve talked with dancers, musicians and writers and many have shared how a challenging outline, space, or environment pushes them into new creative territory. The more unusual the boarder of space, physical or otherwise forces our imagination into the problem solving quadrant and the results can be amazing.

I encourage artists of all types to look for new space to work and perform.  If it scares you a bit, you’re probably on the right track.  I’m learning to enjoy the uncomfortable.

Amazing or not, here are my two favorite poems from the day, unpolished, slightly edited, and fresh:

Photo prompt:

Goats in Trees Have Bird Bones

Air filled, no wings
not feather, but fur
covers the skin
soaked in urine
now a leather bag of a man
strapped to shoulder
walker of the road
follows the orange
setting sun until
he reaches the
land where goats
climb trees

but do not fly

Line Prompt:
Flare up like a flame
and make big shadows I can move in.
 -a line from “Go to the Limits of Your Longing” by Rainer Maria Rilke
A Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, b.1875-d.1927

Make Big Shadows I Can Move In

Protected by your stare
Sun’s rays will burn me
If they spy me standing there
Under covers of the bed I made
Next to a pile of books to read
Window’s light a threat
Curtains now a shade
Dull shaped pattern of gray
Cover thick on the ground
Outline the places where I can stay
***

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.

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