Work – shannon p. laws

Angel From Montgomery

The whole mill was loud–so loud that you could sing to yourself, at the top of your lungs and no one would be able to hear you unless they were right up on your platform. So, I sang. To help my memory, because I can’t do only one thing at a time, I decided to learn new songs. I looked up the lyrics and tried to sing all the way through without a mistake. I learned 5 or 6 new songs doing this. Singing became a part of my work life. It helped the time pass and, well, it really felt good

Poem: Broth

Broth Ten dollars an hour for twelve hours —watch, stir, refill, stir again and watch. My tool a large paddle punishes coconut clumps Beats at them and their natural oil-tendency. Tomorrow I’ll beat at raisins Somebody’s gotta do it. My day hovers at various levels of self-induced hypnosis I’m on a lake of coconut directingContinue reading “Poem: Broth”

My First Villanelle: Towards Harris

But first a note from my desk… This villanelle came to me during my first week at a new job on a cold, dark, foggy February morning. With steel toe boots on and a budgeted $7 for travel and lunch in my jean pocket, I search for the bus stop on Harris to catch theContinue reading “My First Villanelle: Towards Harris”

Two-Toned

Here is a blog post from 2010. I no longer own this watch. This real life story is on my mind this morning. Hope you like it.~Shannon Sometime around 2004 I won a prize. My sales efforts for the year earned me a gift of one item from a catalog titled “Copper Tier Winners”. ItContinue reading “Two-Toned”

Vicarious Vacation

The phrase “summer job” leads most people to picture a student making pizzas or serving burgers during the long three months off from school. If you live on an island it has a completely different meaning to a whole other demographic. A summer job(s) here is what the working class or retired folks do toContinue reading “Vicarious Vacation”

Two-Tone

Sometime around 2004 I won a prize. My sales efforts for the year earned me a gift of one item from a catalog titled “Copper Tier Winners”. It basically meant I place third with hundreds of others within the nation wide company. This was during a time in my life when I was working soContinue reading “Two-Tone”

Commuting for "Life"

written: Saturday, November 14, 2009 After a hard day there is nothing like heading out to the beach for some wonderful Beach Therapy. This is free therapy time for anyone; you don’t need to contact your insurance company to see if it’s covered by your plan, ya just go. It was hard to believe whileContinue reading “Commuting for "Life"”