Last night at Poetry Night’s open mic I ran into another Mary Oliver fan. I find it exciting to meet new people and hear their story. This poetry fan told me she doesn’t write poetry, she just comes to listen. However, one night, about six months ago, she read the Mary Oliver poem “The Journey”. I wasContinueContinue reading “Powered by Poetry”
Author Archives: Shannon Laws
Poetry: Winter Prayer
This morning the sky changed. The wind came from a different direction than what I was used to, catching me by surprise and creating a sense of curiosity within me. The trees I walked under moved and swayed to the song of the wind, making for a lovely dance. The wind combed threw the branchesContinueContinue reading “Poetry: Winter Prayer”
Poetry: Loose Hair
Sometimes you don’t Notice a stray hairOn your clothesUntil the light hits itStray thoughtsA lost memoryForgotten friendYour car keysThings we looseBlown off usFingers rustle through Our hair, lookingHow can you put Back into the follicleStray hair that Left the scalpIt must instead be mourned If it was even missed orGreeted graciouslyLike a fresh beginning
Road Fury
1978 Chrysler Fury Magazine CommercialA few days ago I received a text from my daughter: “I drove myself home!” My daughter just recently earned her drivers license and drove herself home from college for the first time. She sounded so happy! For various reasons she didn’t get her license until her second year of college.ContinueContinue reading “Road Fury”
Hold On
Today marks the third week living at my new place. While unpacking boxes of stuff I discovered a box of odd things from my past that included: a pen and ink drawing from 8th grade art class on “Abstract Art”, 10 soccer & softball trophies, my letters earned from school sports, two teeth pulled, andContinueContinue reading “Hold On”
Poetry: Him
HIMWhen she thinks of him she smilesWhen he stands in front of her She sees him as an old manStill standing thereThat look in his eyesIn front of her, smiling“Could he stay there, with me, that long?Could I know him ‘till he goes gray?”Sometimes I wish I could tell him “I love you”But it’s still tooContinueContinue reading “Poetry: Him”
The Coffee Ghost
Thinking of my dad today; this little story from 2010:The Dreamlake in the morning shone like polished glass. Looking around, the sun was peeking through the trees, shooting rays of light through the ground fog. Above, the clouds were changing colors like a slow moving kaleidoscope. Taking a deep breath of that full fresh mountain air,ContinueContinue reading “The Coffee Ghost”
Poetry: Tongue In Ink
The best poems are not written in ink but by the tongue.Spoken into the air never finding paperTouch by the mist of breath against your neckSaid in the dark rooms where lovers meetNot at all recorded nor syllables numberedBut art form just the sameOnce activated and released the words are all lostLeft to moments thatContinueContinue reading “Poetry: Tongue In Ink”
Bird Brain
There is a celebrated free concert available to anyone who lives near trees. Songbirds create a relaxing atmosphere, a symphony of background noise that only nature itself could conduct. The soothing effects are almost immediate; a lower heart beat, a happier disposition, and a smile on your face. In the winter my yard is quiet,ContinueContinue reading “Bird Brain”
Poetry: W Stafford
January 17th is William Stafford’s birthday. If you live in the Bellingham area please consider dropping by Village Books that Tuesday for some poetry reading of Williams. Williams was a true American poet. Some interesting facts about his life: his first major book of poetry was published when he was forty-eight years old and in 1970ContinueContinue reading “Poetry: W Stafford”
shannon p. laws 