Vanessa Shields's Blog, page 37
May 21, 2021
Poem 141 – In it & more
In it
in the smell of Spring’s breezy exhalation:
my anxious youth
track meets where I hid under the bleachers and cried
classrooms wet with stifled heat and math I didn’t understand
teachers who understood my passion for words
the wobbly possibility of a lunch-hour romance
the first time I shaved my legs brown hairs curling down the tub drain like caterpillars
the promise of summer solid like Nonna’s shoulders
all of it – my waving youth
in the smell of Spring’s perfect exhalation
Thursday, June 3, 2021 – 7pm – The Joy of Editing
Please join my editor Abigail Roelens and I as we read our poetry and discuss the editor/writer relationship. We’ll show you what the original Thimbles manuscript looked like, what we edited, and how we bonded over the love of our grandmothers.
This is a Zoom webinar. Please register for the link here:
THE JOY OF EDITING
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Time: 7pm – 8:30pm EST
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_ORzI_8mcTxyeaWHISQhbjA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Local poet has two new books out!
Poet Laureate Emeritus, historian, teacher, publisher and friend, Marty Gervais has not one but two new collections of poetry! They are fresh off the press and selling at sale prices! Click on the link for more info!
A New Dress Everyday: Poems in my Mother’s Voice
Both collections are published by Mosaic Press.
Congratulations Marty!
May 20, 2021
Poem 140 – Startling Truths
Startling Truths
you can think
what do I do with all this truth?
as your hands instinctively open
palms up – like it’s holdable
the truth can be startling
an undoing, even
when you discover its
staggering volume
you can fall to your knees
tear out grass or
pinch your thigh &
cry-whisper: is this truly so?
the truth answers
in morning dew’s cheek
on sparrow’s feather flap
with snail’s gooey trail
you can feel & speak
with your heart or your mind
or your soul or all or none
the truth waits – serves
says: when you’re ready,
I’m here. I love you.
May 19, 2021
Poem 139 – occupation
occupation
it is migratory
the curiosity
tucking under a lymph node
camping in a shoulder blade
climbing a femur
but when it unpacks
right down to its delicates
writes a rent cheque
buys groceries
it removes its skin & shows its
true self: sadness
with bulging eyes for weeping
hands oversized like porcelain pasta bowls
filled with unanswered questions
how did this happen?
how long will it last?
do you still love me?
love…is insecure here
a magician’s assistant without rehearsal
& the water tank is full & love can’t breathe
for the throat chain of fear – tightening
it’s incredible the shape-shifting
the landlord tenant act thrashing
in the chambers of my heart
that is the organ that sadness occupies
I plead for a lease break
flash a wad of useless cash
hunt for curiosity’s clothing & baggage
BOOK LAUNCH TONIGHT @ 7PM – Motorcycles, Moose & Magic by Tracey Rogers
Come and celebrate with us! Tracey Rogers’ book launch is tonight via Facebook live! Here’s the event page – JOIN US!
Go Tracey!
May 18, 2021
Poem 138 – Dog Days & The Joy of Editing
Dog days
dies caniculares
the dog days are coming
can you feel the howl of star
power shifting in the galaxy?
ready your skin!
gather your shade!
hide your secrets in tender petals
soon to wilt in adoration of
the Great Dog
whether we follow the stars or not
they follow us – gain & catch up
take nibbles of our heels
remind us where we come from
Research: https://www.almanac.com/content/what-are-dog-days-summer
THE JOY OF EDITING featuring Vanessa Shields & Abigail Roelens
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 – 7PM – 8:30PM EST
Ever wonder what the editor/writer relationship is like? What it takes to elevate a manuscript into a glorious book? Join myself and my editor Abigail for a reading and discussion about the writer/editor relationship – including examples of poems from ‘Thimbles’ from their raw beginnings to their shiny endings!
This is a zoom webinar with a link to registration.
When: Jun 3, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Thimbles: the Joy of Editing
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ORzI_8mcTxyeaWHISQhbjA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Thank you to the League of Canadian Poets for a grant for this event!
May 17, 2021
Poem 137 – What the coffee mug says
What the coffee mug says
I fall asleep on the sofa
my dress snake-twisting around my legs
these muscles much too muted to start a new day
I give in to the cushions
pull up the blanket
the sun opens her eyes
as I close mine for a bit longer
the coffee cools in the rainbow mug
with the words be amazing in bold black cursive
when I wake – again
the grog of the morning has lifted like fog
I sip cold coffee
consider the possibility
of being amazing
May 16, 2021
Poem 136 – Half in Half Out & AWISC Release!
Half in Half out
mind constipated with to dos
stomach a bushel of hands squeezing tomato-sized worries
soul saddened by the man who flipped me the bird when I was driving
still….the other birds chirp & knock & tweet & little laughters from the kids in their yards reach for my cheek plant kisses
like we planted peas & lettuce & onions in the garden
growing is constant if not messy & smelly & perfect
All Write In Sin City podcast Release Today!
To watch the full-length interview between Sarah, Kim, Irene and I about ‘Thimbles’ click on podcast release HERE ON THEIR WEBSITE! It’s called ‘Measuring Out in Thimbles’!
Thank you AWISC for the opportunity to talk about my beautiful Nonna and her love legacy!
May 15, 2021
Poem 153 – ask & tour updates!
ask
ask to see my hands
to look deeply
under my fingernails
and you will know my day
TOMORROW! All Write In Sin City Podcast Premiere!
Tomorrow our conversation will be released into the world! Wooohoo!
Please visit the All Write In Sin City website HERE to find out more about this incredible trio and what they’re doing for our literary community. And, take a look at their youtube channel HERE to see all the incredible writers they’ve interviewed thus far…Including some local greats like Mary Ann Mulhern, Dorothy Mahoney, Ellie Csepregi, Christopher Paul Curtis, Dr. Heidi L.M. Jacobs, and more! You’ll be hooked!
Next Week’s Reading is Postponed!
We are sorry to announce that we must postpone next week’s reading: Poetry & The Family featuring Margo Wheaton and Vanessa Shields. Life happens…and it’s happening hard, so we must go with flow, and re-book this event for another time. As soon as we confirm this date, we will let you know. We apologize for any inconvenience this way cause! Thank you for understanding!
THANK YOU PLANET EARTH POETRY!
Last night’s reading and open mic was just soooo lovely – love-filled and inspiring! Thank you to Zoe and Leanne, and the PEP family of poets who show up each with courageously to share and appreciate poetry! Recording to come soon!
May 14, 2021
Poem 134 – Dear Hafiz & PEP & AWISC!
Dear Hafiz
You make it seem so easy
Like the words & nature & your heart & your pen
are collected & connected in one sustained & precise moment
Like flow is inevitable & if you move a sofa or tilt your head
you find poems alive & giddy & open-palmed – daring you to catch them
But deeper because you know a poem needs never to be caught
A poem is not a bandit
A poem is your soul’s mirror & you understand
how choosing to look changes everything &
You stare like you were born to stare at beautiful things
& write about them I can hear you whispering…
It is easy when easy is a handful of sand & you are the hand
& the wind & the lapping lips of the shore
when you are the poem & the poet
TONIGHT – POETRY PARTY! 10:30PM!
Remember when we used to go dancing…and we wouldn’t show up at the bar until 11pm…and the dance floor didn’t fill up until midnight?! Remember how our muscles could move like liquid all night? Well, let’s tap into that magic tonight as we head to the Planet Earth Poetry reading with our friends out in Victoria! You can wear your jammies!
Join our poetry party that begins with an open mic and then is followed with me reading and sharing. I can’t wait to engage with you!
If you’d like to read at the open mic, you have until 3pm EST time and 12pm PST today to sign up.
The link to enter the zoom will be available at 10:15pm EST/7:15PM PST.
Everything you need to join the open mic and join the zoom is RIGHT HERE IN THIS LINK!
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Palimpsest Press Spring Book launch last night! Congratulations again to my fellow published writers: Tolu Oloruntoba, Margaret Christakos and Nathaniel G Moore. Thank you to host Jim Johnstone, to publisher Aimee Parent Dunn.
To purchase any of the fine Palimpsest Press books, including those celebrated last night, please CLICK HERE.
SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021
The All Write in Sin City gang, Sarah, Irene and Kim, will post our conversation about Thimbles this Sunday! OOOO! I’m so excited to share this with you! Here’s a sweet teaser!
To view the full episode, please visit their Youtube Channel or their website!
And be sure to stick around and watch and listen to the many other episodes they’ve compiled. Prepare to be inspired!
NEXT THURSDAY’S EVENT W/ MARGO WHEATON!
Wherein poet Margo Wheaton and I read our poetry and have a grand conversation about the process of writing about family, home, place and identity.
Please pre-register for the zoom event! There will be open chat and Q & A as well!
Poetry & The Family
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Time: 7pm EST/8pm ATL
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_0jwxSVYiRK-rOoIfNo_6wwAfter registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
May 13, 2021
Poem 133 – Sapphic Voltas & Spring Launch Tonight!
Sapphic Voltas
What if today I give worry a fiddle?
Let finishing plunder & instead diddle?
Deep laugh at pain & embrace the middle?
Release the riddle
I got this great book entitled: Poetry 101: A Crash Course in Poetry by Susan Dalzell. Today’s poem is written in Sapphic meter. “…attributed to the poet Sappho, this meter consists of three lines of eleven syllables and a final line of five syllables.” (pg. 22) A volta or turn, “occurs in the ninth line [of a sonnet]. It introduces a new idea into the poem’s narrative or argument.” (pg. 38)
[image error]Palimpsest Press Spring Book Launch Tonight 8pm!
I’m so excited to share words with Margaret, Tolu, Nathanial and Jim at tonight’s Palimpsest Press Spring book launch! There’ll be poetry, prose and proud writers! You can still register today! The event starts promptly at 8pm! See you then and thank you for your support!
Tomorrow night: poetry w/ the west!
Tomorrow at 10:30pm Windsor-time, I’ll be sharing poetry with the folks in Victoria, BC at Planet Earth Poetry! An open mic starts the reading, followed by a featured reading by yours truly! If you’re up for some late night poetry, join us! If you’re in the Pacific time zone – we’ll see you at 7:30pm!
This a zoom event. No preregistration is required.
Here’s the info to join us at 10:15pm EST/7:15pm PST:
Want to sign up for the open mic? LINK HERE
May 12, 2021
Poem 132 – Even when
Even when
Even when you have everything you need the voice turns to hand & holding
a dull kitchen knife – like the one you use to sshhhllllttt open the Amazon box – cuts you wide then points inside to that writhing worm of envy slick & shiny teeth biting at the cold air wall of being caught This the voice slimes This
Yesterday, my comparison monster reared her scraggle-tooth face. She’s still here…spreading her wings of envy and flapping them at my face. I’m looking at her. Watching her. Giving her space to exist. I’m preparing some poetry to submit, and tomorrow and the next night I’ll be reading and talking with other writers. It all makes me nervous and emotional and contemplative and my monsters come out. The process of deciding what poems to read before a reading is important. I want to be prepared. I want to read what my heart and mind wants to read. I want to be able to speak passionately and confidently about the work, the words, the meanings…but always, precisely as I’m beginning this process, my courage slips out the back door and goes for a long run. The monsters move in. I have to go to battle for my work. I’ll handle it. But this is where I’m at. Today. If you’re here too or ever have been…here’s a hand. My hand. Nobody’s free of the monsters.
TOMORROW 8PM!
Palimpsest Press Spring Book Launch!
REGISTER HERE!
With Margaret Christakos, Nathaniel G. Moore, Tolu Oloruntoba, and Vanessa Shields.
Hosted by Jim Johnstone.
May 13, 2021 08:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_A3mt8lITSBWAYePM55x13g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
