What do you have planned for this long Labor Day weekend? Me? I’m working on a draft for a new chapbook. The collection will shine a spotlight on poems and short stories about work. Many folks react well and often come up and talk with me about my work poems. They strike a cord. So, I’m hoping it will be an insightful collection. I’ve decided to try something new and a bit terrifying, I’m adding an epilogue. The epilogue includes my complete work resume; every single job in chronological order. The one rule I gave myself—list must include ANY paid job. This was fun to put together. My first job was picking berries when I was nine. Of course, I was exempt from paying taxes, but it was a job and I got paid–list it. Total count is 52 jobs over 46 years. What would your REAL RESUME look like?
Speaking of being terrified, while going through my old resume folder, many jobs I had forgotten about came back to memory. In 2018 I co-hosted the Whatcom Memorial Day Parade with local radio personality Dave Walker. The parade was going to be canceled that year due to no organizer. A non-profit decided to organize it at the last moment. However, the regular, seasoned professional female host was out of the country. The city needed a female host—immediately. Earlier that year I received the Mayor’s Arts Award. The producer for the recipient video profiles was also the producer for City of Bellingham TV, (BTV.) He told me I was the first person he thought of to fill her shoes. They say flattery gets you nowhere, but, it got me walking the friendly sidewalks of Cornwall Avenue, mic in hand.
It was about three hours worth of work. I had to improvise on the spot with only radio interviewing skills in my toolbox. I enjoyed working with Dave and the crew. I learned a lot but it scared the heck out of me. I really wanted to do a good job. The crew was very kind & helpful. You may enjoy watching just the first 2 minutes of it. Dave and I are on the street introducing the parade. Dave is over six feet tall, the other host I filled in for is about 5’10, and I’m 5’2. Standing next to me I look like an ant. Makes me smile every time I see it. Hope it gives you one too.
Here is another poem I’ll never submit for publication. I gave it an odd name. I think it was a reference to the four corners of a bedsheet, possibly a slant comment to the four corners of the Earth. Hope you enjoy it.
Four Corners of Ignorance
A covering was placed on me
over me
like a sheet
like a costume
like a cloak
like a veil
It was placed on me
and worked its way inside
It could hold nothing
like the underside of the spoon
Underneath in the garden
are worms and grubs
potato bugs that even
birds can not forage
There are dark places
and then there are the white
the albino parts
of the maggots and roots
it’s an unknown
and it is a bright
bright light
all at the same time
Here’s my current mood in a meme. It’s raining and I’m thinking of “The Office”, & the Carol Bingo episode. Don’t work too hard this weekend. -Shannon
shannon p. laws 