Poem: Break

A stormy view of Bellingham Bay during a work break

Break

by Shannon P. Laws

 

Today the sea is rough

A short dark log bobs offshore

It makes little effort to head in

Against its indifference the waves

push it towards the rocky beach

 

Swallows divebomb my head

Mistaking my daydream for a

gnat or annoying mosquito

 

Weeds are allowed to mature

on this bank, no one tends them

To the tallest thistle, I remind you

once—when I was young and barefoot

you pricked me.  You were small

green and leafy, welcoming curious flesh

Now you are a proud purple war club

glorious crowns mark your victories 

 

The log is almost to shore

and my break is over

 

The door to outside

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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