Vanessa Shields's Blog, page 40

Poem 115 – Sunday Morning

Sunday Morning

back at the dining room table
cooling coffee
coffee breath thick
four pens
three journals
two markers
hand-written poems
on pretty pink paper
the tops ragged from
tearing them off the pad
overflowing bread basket
recycled paper napkins
too many to fit in the holder
so they topple under the
laptop cord & virtual school
print-outs the napkin holder
holding up Miller’s cell phone
the Mega To Do List
this poem number one

I gaze out the windows
into the backyard
yesterday’s clothes
still on the line
waving like leaves
drying from last
evening’s rain

STILL FLOATING on the joy…

…of being a part of CBC Books Spring 2021 Poetry must-reads list! Thank you to everyone for sending beautiful messages of support and congratulations!

My tummy is a butterfly sanctuary – a full-flutter! My book launch is THIS THURSDAY! *she slaps her forehead*

Working out the last few technology challenges…but will be so ready to share ‘Thimbles’ with everyone!

Poem 114 – Celebrat’ry Musts & CBC Books

Celebrat’ry Musts

in celebration of Earth Day, Shakespeare’s birthday & Indie Bookstore Day

such celebrat’ry musts
earth
shakespeare
indie bookst’res

such int’rtwin’d charm
star seeds to trees
turneth to pap’r holding
inky w’rds writ by lov’rs
of life and language
did press to pages
splay’d on shelves
books yond art alive

and at which hour did light’racy wanes
moth’r nature spins h’r skirts
and lifts our spirits with 
h’r winds of wisdom

constant unstoppable st’ries
f’r this we ho’rah!
bray out the pow’r of w’rds
honour the earth in h’r grace and giving
shopeth local

*I wrote this poem then put it through the Shakespearean language translator!

THIMBLES MAKES CBC SPRING POETRY LIST!

I just about passed out when I saw this morning on Instagram that CBC Books has included Thimbles in its top 55 books of poetry to read this spring! I share the list with 54 other incredible poets, some of whom are my idols (!), but there you have it. Me. On the list with the others!

This includes Margaret Christakos and Tolu Oloruntoba, my fellow Palimpsest Press-ers who I have the joy of sharing a spring launch event with on May 13! CLICK HERE TO JOIN US!

Thank you CBC Books and Palimpsest Press for making this poet’s dreams come true!

To view the full list, CLICK HERE!

Congratulations poets!

Fellow poets on the list!

Margo’s here too!

Margo Wheaton is on the list too! Joining David Adams Richards for their book Wild Green Lights! Margo and I have our virtual event on May 20th wherein we’ll talk about writing poetry about family…and how it feels to make a CBC books list!

Congratulation Margo and David!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN MARGO & I AT OUR EVENT!

Poem 113 – Cute Aggression

Cute Aggression

I watched five Labrador puppies
curl and scrunch into a small black bucket

then a sixth puppy leapt on top of the pile
six puppies curved & cuddled & curiously happy

it made me feel cute aggression
it made me squeeze my hands to my chest & curse

such easy joy
such gushing

*

pups in a bucket
six fur balls fit into one
love is worth the risk

Do you ever watch dog videos on youtube? We watch them pretty often, actually, because our pooch Pages, she loves to watch television or any screen that has cartoons or animals on it. See?

She tilts her head like she understands what she’s seeing and hearing, and when she gets really excited, she kisses the screen and looks behind it as if to meet the animals on the other side. It’s wild. In any case, watching cute puppy videos triggers in me what my friend Mariette taught me is: cute aggression. Cute aggression is when you feel so overwhelmed with what you’re seeing because it’s so damn cute that you curse or say things like: I want to bite it’s face, or I want to punch it. Okay…maybe that’s going a little far, but that’s cute aggression. Of course, I didn’t actually bite or punch anyone/thing! Thanks to Jett for showing me the video of the puppies. Thanks to Mariette for teaching me the term. Thanks to all those who post cute puppy videos. They really make ya feel so good!

This weekend I’m participating in the CV2 Two-Day Poetry writing contest. I did it last year for the first time. It was really fun and challenging. Anyone else participating this year? If so, good luck!

Poem 112 – Promised Lee

Promised Lee

Headlamp burnt out
on all fours
dragging damp bones
over sharp stones
the wind a violent
warden with an 
addiction to chaos
she whips & slaps
branches & vines
surrendering at her pulls

For weeks now
dragging these dreams
in open wounds
blood glistening under
the glare of an
anxious sun
prayers draped
like shrouds sent
to the startled moon
whose tides disconnect
the body from the land

Where are you, promised lee?
the side away from 
these relentless 
blows of change?
surely shelter is
abundant somewhere?

Oh lee, show yourself!
my mortal vessel
dilapidates toward
the heavens & fear
has chained my soul
to its fangs

A shanty or a sheet
such sweet sanctuary
I will accept with grace
& wait there – curled
into the space between
before & after 
delirious but hopeful

Thank you to Mark B for teaching me three new words this week, one of which is ‘lee’. A lee is ‘the sheltered side of something, the side away from the wind’. As soon as I read its meaning, I knew a poem would come to me. One word, sometimes that’s all it takes to make a poem! So, thanks Mark!

NPM – LIZ WORTH, POET

I’ve been a huge fan of Liz Worth’s writing for some time now, so wasn’t I tickled excited when I read that her poetry collection ‘The Truth is Told Better This Way’ (Book*hug, 2017) is long-listed for this year’s ReLit award (the ReLit award took a bit of a hiatus but is up and running again!). Worth is also a fine tarot reader and teacher, and has published several books on how to tarot. To find out more about Liz, please visit her website: www.lizworth.com

Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Prize

The deadline for the Drummond Poetry Prize is April 30th.

Dr. William Henry Drummond Poetry Contest
NEW DEADLINE FOR RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS: Friday, April 30, 2021
Cash prize total $1,600
Download rules as PDF at www.springpulsepoetryfestival.com.
Residency: All entrants must be Canadian residents or landed immigrants.
Poems: Poems must be titled, previously unpublished, and typed in black ink one per page on 8.5 x 11-inch white bond paper. Poems are not to exceed 50 lines in length, including the title. Space between title and any paragraph is counted as one line. So please count these lines carefully. Do not put your name on the pages your poems are typed on. There is a blind judging contest, and the Judge will not know your name.
Entry Identification: The cover page containing your name, address, telephone number, email address and Poem Title(s), an e-transfer for $10.00 per poem submitted.
The NEW FINAL RECEIVED SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE is Friday, April 30, 2021.
HENCEFORTH WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING ONLINE SUBMISSIONS WITH E-TRANSFER PAYMENT TO mybrydges@yahoo.ca
By entering the contest, you are giving first Canadian rights for publication in the anthology of winning poems. You are free to market your poem(s) in other places but inform them if it has appeared in this anthology. First ($300), Second ($200), and Third ($100) place winners. Eight prizes of $75 each will be awarded for the honourable mention category. Eight prizes of $50 will be given for the Judge’s choice.
The decision of the Judge is final. All those chosen by the Judge to be included in the anthology will receive a certificate and a complimentary copy of the anthology. The Judge may break up a line if it is too long to fit the anthology chapbook format.
Send contest email queries to David Brydges, the administrator at mybrydges@yahoo.ca.

ONE WEEK AWAY!

We are officially one week away from the Thimbles virtual book launch! Have you registered for the Zoom link? Have you purchased your copy of ‘Thimbles’?!

Please visit my virtual tour webpage with all the details for zoom links, events and more!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBPAGE!

Poem 111 – his sweater on the fourth day & PIV & New YPL!

his sweater on the fourth day

Holding dog hair in clumps like April snow on branches. Heavy with the surprise of the weight I carry on my shoulders. (Also like April snow on branches, folding into each other as if to say ‘can you feel this too?’ then the wind comes & blows off chunks & curtains of white like a photo filter but better because it’s real. The confusion of this unpredictable precipitation lives like art.) Sleeves stretched from nights on the sofa watching West Wing & Fear the Walking Dead. Collar curved out of itself from an afternoon on the back of the office chair, sifted with skin & silver strands plus cracker crumbs & this morning great streaks of oil patchouli on the wrists & torso because the smell reminds me of my mom & I miss her.

WINDSOR CHOOSES NEW YOUTH POET LAUREATE!

Congratulations to Windsor poet Alex-Andrei (Alexei) Ungurenasu (they/them) who was chosen as our next Youth Poet Laureate! The City of Windsor announced this news yesterday which is during National Poetry Month.

To find out more about Alexei’s YPL goals and writing life, please READ THIS.

POETS RULE! Congratulations Alexei!

Poetry In Voice Virtual National Finals April 22!

The Online National Finals is just ONE day away! Poetry in Voice is Canada’s poetry recitation competition and hub for all things poetry for youth. Students from high schools across the county choose 1-2 poems in English and/or French, memorize and recite the poems in live competitions starting in classes and then moving to school-wide, province-wide and finally to the country-wide competition. This is an incredibly inspiring and emotional poetic exultation that brings youth deep into poems from our past and present and celebrates spoken word and the power of poetry.

Tune in to poetryinvoice.com this Thursday, April 22 @ 8pm Eastern to witness the amazing competition and find out who will take first prize!

Here’s a video preview to wet your excitement! WATCH HERE!

Poem 110 – Daisy Duplex

Daisy Duplex
A poem about the daisy for Miller

Bellis perennis daes eage
Day’s eye daisy dawn’s blinking blossom

Daisy dawn’s blossom blinks
Plinked from the field for fortune

Fortune’s field her petals pulled
By fingers in need of divinity

Fingers need divine guidance
Love or not love petals proclaim

Proclamations of love torturous
Death to the daisy that divines

The daisy dies for love
Affection blossoms in the pulling

Can love blossom in a single petal pull?
Bellis perennis daes eage – love is day’s eyes rising

KEEP SHARING.

Oh, I’m *loving* all the incredible feedback and stories and love that y’all are sharing with me as you read through ‘Thimbles’! Thank you! This is a photo of a thimble collection from a reader. She’d quite forgotten she had this sweet collection, and when she started reading ‘Thimbles’, it showed itself to her once again! I love being wrapped up in the warm embraces of your stories and connections. Keep ’em coming!

SINGLE DIGITS…

Oooweeemama! We’re down to single digits in the day count toward the big virtual launch! I have to decide what to wear! I know for sure what I’ll be eating to celebrate: cheesecake. So. Much. Cheesecake. Here’s the registration info for the zoom link if you’d like to join us!

Topic: Thimbles Hometown Launch
Register in advance for this webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2tEPlPPzSx-j9YbJUwJOFA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Books are selling super well! Thank you! If you’d like your copy signed ‘live’ at the virtual event, please let me or Palimpsest Press know when you purchase a copy of the book. You can purchase from the press or from me.

To order from the press, CLICK HERE.

To order from me, send me an email at shieldsvanessa@gmail.com. Thank you!

Congratulations Jane Christmas!

I had a blast at Jane Christmas’ workshop on Humour Writing at the gritlit festival this past weekend. Jane’s wit and vulnerability made for a stellar workshop on key elements of humour writing.

Jane’s memoirs are all infused with heartfelt humour and honesty that makes a reader feel part of her stories. Her most recent memoir, ‘Open House – A Life in Thirty-Two Moves’ was just long listed for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour! Hip-hip-hooray!

To find out more about Jane Christmas, CLICK HERE!

Can we get a vegan donut up in here?

Thank you sooo much to the Literary Arts Windsor family who so kindly had four *deeeelicious* Plant Joy vegan donuts delivered to my door in thanks for hosting their YA event last week. I DEVOURED that cookies & cream donut in about thirty-seven seconds. I highly recommend eating as many Plant Joy vegan donuts as possible.

To order yours, CLICK HERE.

Poem 109 – Butter

Butter

butter on fingers
makes pen’s body slippery
like dew on poems

TEN DAYS TO VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH!

Thank you to everyone who has already registered for my virtual book launch on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 7:30pm! Yippeee! Books are selling like butter-drippy hotcakes! Thank you for that too!

Here’s a link to register for the Zoom link:

Topic: Thimbles Hometown Launch
Register in advance for this webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2tEPlPPzSx-j9YbJUwJOFA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

SNEAK PEEK…another one…

So, we’re doing something a little different at the virtual book launch. We’ve prepared a beautiful and emotional (if I may say so myself!) video of me reading poetry from ‘Thimbles’. Filmed on the gorgeous second floor of Suede Productions by my husband Nick and son Jett, joined by trumpet player Amanda and seamstress Deborah, we created something pretty spectacular in a poetic and musical tribute to my Nonna. Last night I watched the video for the first time. I cried. My husband said: are you crying watching yourself crying? I snotted, yessss! We really hope that you will be moved as we share and watch and experience this tribute together! (Photo credit: Miller Shields!)

NPM MARGO WHEATON, POET

I have the incredible pleasure of sharing a virtual reading Halifax poet, Margo Wheaton. Margo has been writing extraordinary poetry for decades. She teaches. She inspires.

I first read her book ‘The Unlit Path Behind the House‘ (McGill Queen’s University Press, 20216) when I was on an award jury. I immediately felt a kinship with Margo’s words. Wouldn’t you know it, we were but one degree of separation away from each other, so when I reached out to connect, we had a laugh at how close our circles had already linked us. Fast-forward to this year, and our friendship and writing connection is a strong as ever.

Margo and I write from the same places in our poet souls. We write about the same themes: home, family, love, loss. This is why on Thursday, May 20, we’re doing a reading and having a discussion together about poetry and the family.

We’d love for you to join us!

Topic: Thimbles: Poetry and the Family
Register in advance for this webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0jwxSVYiRK-rOoIfNo_6ww

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Poem 108 – Wild Violet

Wild Violet

half out of her body
her soul a flamenco skirt
flaring flapping in the tight
grip of Just Get This Done

these things to do
can be infinite or she
can do a little at a time
half in the moment half
in the heel crack of nomadic
beats on the dance floor
of This Day

she’s a dancer
this we know
but she is also
viola papilionacea
heart-shaped leaves
waxy & heavy-rooted
difficult to control &
aggressive in her growth

even when she’s only half in bloom

Poem 107 – Gulls 2 & Review

Gulls 2

the gulls are back
drawing up dawn
with their claw-screams

their piercing lyrics hysterically joyful

Merp. Another typo yesterday. Had an extra ‘to’ that wasn’t necessary. Did you see it? My editorial skills are clearly not to par these last few days. All good. We learn.

This just in…

Thank you soooo very much to poet and friend Peter Hrastovec for sharing the following thoughts on ‘Thimbles’. It truly is overwhelming to receive such heartfelt responses to one’s work. I am floating on love air!

“If you have not read anything by Vanessa Shields, her latest work, Thimbles, is a fitting introduction to the work of this gifted Canadian poet. It is truly a love letter to her Nonna, a woman who overcame personal tragedy and enormous grief to build a new life in a new country. This is a tribute to a life well-lived, a journey of discovery and enlightenment, a legacy that is etched in the hearts of those who survive and who, like the author, are encouraged to live up to the expectations of this no-nonsense matriarch who had lessons for all.

In this chronicle of love and loss, there are the usual but significant milestones—marriage, childbirth, work, celebrations with family. The events are personal—they look and feel a little different than what may be expected in other life stories, what each of us may experience in our own families. What is remarkable here are not the events themselves but the depth of feeling that is described with soulful grace by this poet. Devotion is a two-way street and the journey shared has a lasting influence on the participants.

It was hard to pick a favorite among the poems that comprise this thematically fluid collection. But for me, the “wow” moment is encapsulated in these stirring words addressing critical illness and a sense of the foreboding:

i decide
to reach
into your body
with my love
carry your soul
to the safety
of my heart
the heart
you taught to be
extraordinary
even as it
fails to save you

I urge you to take this trip with Vanessa Shields and celebrate Poetry Month. Thimbles (a publication of Palimpsest Press) honors the privilege of loving and being loved, of being needed and being in need. It preserves a legacy with beauty and dignity. Life is, after all, a delicate balancing act. And sometimes, we hang by a thread.”

To purchase a book of poetry by Peter, CLICK HERE!

HOST PROFILE: CHARIS COTTER

This is Charis Cotter. She writes middle-grade books, mostly ghost stories, from her dream-come-true humble home at the edge of Western Bay in Newfoundland. Charis and I talk and write together nearly every day. No kidding! We have been writing partners for over five years, after meeting at a conference to be on a panel together, and falling madly in love. Charis inspires me deeply, and her writing discipline, skills and passion continue to teach me how to be a better writer.

I am soooo excited that Charis is the host of my upcoming book launch! She will be tuning in from the foggy shores of Newfoundland! Charis is the author of over 12 books, many of which are *award winners* – which we joke about but really are just thrilled to celebrate. Charis’ latest book, The Dollhouse, which isn’t even out yet (!), has made its first giant sale in the education field in the United States; and The Ghost Road, published in 2019, recently won the 2020 Bruneau Family Award for Children’s/Young Adult Literature (Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards).

To find out more about Charis and order ALL OF HER BOOKS (!), please visit her website HERE.

To register for our Zoom book launch, please visit HERE.

Poem 106 – Belly & Spring Launch Date!

Belly – for mary-jo

the belly is a container
an expandable home for
red szechuan pepper
spicing up fish soup
for trembling childhood beds &
crone spirits from the past
demanding that you remember
the bellies that have come before you

story is real
a pliable clothesline you
can pull anytime & connect
between trees of memory

the belly asks that you
consider its contents but
also the rest of your body

how skin raised is recognition
& a tightened throat is actually
an opening for the unspeakable

Teeny Typo: in yesterday’s poem, the last stanza had a typo…’can’ should have been ‘can’t’…so it would read:

A kind of miracle this creature
with no past & shrunken wings
dusty like wishes on stars existing
somewhere I can’t see but can feel
in my rhomboids twitching in the
memories of my own disappeared pinions

Better. Much better.

PALIMPSEST PRESS SPRING BOOK LAUNCH DATE ANNOUNCED!

Do join us for the Palimpsest Press Spring Book Launch!

Thursday, May 13, 2021

8pm via Zoom – registration link below!

Celebrating the Spring authors launching their books from Palimpsest Press!

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.

NPM – TINYWORDS

Congratulations to local poet Dorothy Mahoney for the publication of one of her haikus on the very cool site Tiny Words.

To read her haiku and find out about its inspiration…and also see how you can submit to this cool poetry community, CLICK HERE.