voice | poetry
I am a net
tossed into the sea.
Weights in the corner
drag me down.
One hard jerk
secures the catch.
Winch and pulley
draw me back.
Wet and heavy with
dinner and debris
If I could be used
for something different
Tablecloth
Rug
Curtains
A net to hold fruit,
a wall hanging,
broken apart, unraveled,
re-knitted into a sweater
But I am a fish net
thrown out to the storm
my value—
is caught between spaces.
-by SPL
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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
shannon p. laws