Poem: Stout

Honshu, Japan earthquake tsunami, 2011

 

Stout

by Shannon Laws

 

The thick boned world stabs
at the ocean and moves it
Sea lifts its skirt of waves
crashes them to Earth’s shore

It was enough

It was enough to be stabbed
to relocate away from the familiar
deep lava vents that warmed
the current with breath of conversation

Sea ran to the Earth and lay on it
the soil looks away confused by
seaweed and floss turning in the sky
the life of saltwater raises skins coffin

The Earth is a son of a bitch
that pecks at us all, come hither it calls

Sea laid down its dress on mounds
dirt had no option but to devour

 

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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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