Author Archives: Shannon Laws

To The Right

Earlier this year, before the snowpack in the mountains, could build and the rains of the Northwest La Nina winter began, Padden Gorge Trail was dry and quiet. The creek was all but dried up. The cold air chased away many birds and I experienced the eerie sensation of standing in a silent forest.

Poetry Club Talks…Translation with Sean Dwyer

https://youtu.be/kDveHzDSvnY?si=0aAAx93WNPwgSx_Q Topic: TranslationHost: RonPoem: W.S. Merwin’s translation of Pablo Neruda’s “Poema 20”Recorded: January 9, 2021 Dwyer vs Merwin / Poem 20 We have a guest this week! Author, poet, musician, Western Washington University Spanish professor, and host of the monthly Village Books Open Mic Sean Dwyer joins the club today. Under the microscope are twoContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…Translation with Sean Dwyer”

Poetry Club Talks…RC Weslowski Part 2

https://youtu.be/bMulU3-OWtw?si=gWxe9hZu2tXgavWr Topic: RC WeslowskiHost: ShannonPoem: “Follow Your Dreams”Recorded: January 2, 2021 Follow Your Dreams In part two, Poetry Club enthusiastically examines RC Weslowski’s “Follow Your Dreams”, a three-minute slam performance poem.  The work brings up many questions such as is slam poetry poetry, and if so HOW do you approach it? We also explore if “writingContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…RC Weslowski Part 2”

Poetry Club Talks…RC Weslowski Part 1

https://youtu.be/nXn4IhcCKVk?si=hn9XxWKSfMWENL68 Topic: RC WeslowskiHost: ShannonPoems: “Sparks” and “PNE Love Affair”Recorded: December 26, 2020 Sparks and PNE Love Affair The use of Hyperbole, Onomatopoeia, the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), and one special four-letter word is a few of the topics Poetry Club considers in this week’s discussion of the Canadian poet RC Weslowski. RC Weslowski is theContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…RC Weslowski Part 1”

Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 3

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-pdth8-f5ebb1 Topic: Composition Methods Host: Ron Leatherbarrow Poems: “Housekeeper”, “River Ink”, “Her Hands” Recorded: December 19, 2020 In our final episode exploring personal styles of poetry composition, Shannon shares three poems written at different times, 2010, 2012, 2016, when her style shifted.  Her background in broadcasting plays an unexpected role, not only in her composition but also inContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 3”

Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 2

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ni3cd-f5a847 Topic: Composition Methods Host: Ron Leatherbarrow Poems: “Fold Your Wings” Recorded: December 12, 2020 Three of us volunteered to share poems and talk about our composition methods.  In part two, Amory discusses her writing style and brings a sample of her work “Fold Your Wings” (below).  She shares how she’ll often work the pieceContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 2”

Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 1

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-t2yin-f58795 Topic: Composition MethodsHost: Ron LeatherbarrowPoems: “Gratitude”, “His Hat”Recorded: December 12, 2020 Three of us volunteered to share poems and talk about our composition methods.  First up is Linda who shares two poems “Gratitude” and “His Hat” (below). She talks about that moment during the construction of a poem when a spark hits, why it’sContinueContinue reading “Poetry Club Talks…Composition Styles Part 1”