voice | poetry
Flare up like a flame and make big shadows I can move in
—Rainer Maria Rilke
Protected by your stare
Sun’s rays will burn me
If it spies 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 place where I can stay
~Shannon P. 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
shannon p. laws