SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
DanielJ.Shevock

IwrotethesepoemsbetweenJanuary2015andJanuary2016.OurWriters
Blockismyfamilypoemadaychallenge,whichweholdonFacebook.
Throughouttheyear,wedesignatevariouspromptstoinspirepoetry.
January4,2015
Sittingonmylapkickingasthegunnerspushupthefield.Cornersandheaders
andgoals.Fallingasleeponmylap.MomentsIwouldn'ttradeforallthediamondsin
Africa.Breathing,layingcomfortably.Yousmileanddrymilksparkles.Eyesclosed,
dreamingofsoccer.Thebiggameisthegameyoulike.
January5,2015
Therearenomistakes,onlyunforeseenopportunities
Asoundisonlysweetorsourthroughthesurroundingpitches
Youplayanddo,becauseitistheonlygamethatmatters
Soloactswontdo,peoplewanttohearmorethanonlyyou
Negotiatedspace,sweetmagicofinterdependence
January11,2015
I
Am
Not
Made
Alone
Solely
Selfish
Separate
Abandoned
Although
Fitting
Shared
Unity
Full
And
We
O

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
January14,2015
Iusedtodo,andtothink,andtolive,
somanywrongthings,Icouldliveinregret,
ButnowIforgivemyself,whichishard,
thoughthebadcanneverbeoffset.
January17,2015
Laughing,babyawoke
Amiddancingsunshine;
Nothingbetterreflects
Heaven'smagic,aglow,
Alive,morningsparkles,
Jacob'sladdersbeaming;
Fillingsingingsoundings

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
January18,2015
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
Hereliemen,orweretheyboyswhojustlastweekdidshoutinjoy
Asgamestheyplayedturnedonadimewhencalledtodieintheirprimes
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
Thesergeantscalledandboystodieandlistenedwelltoordersnigh
Eachboy,toarms,tofightthefoewhoneverasingleboydidknow
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
Nolongerland,normoneyearnedarereasonsforthiswartoyearn
Noneoftheseareleftinwar,onlyorderstolivenomore
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
Notlookingenemyintheeye,norhonoredshouts,nobattlecry
Nomantoman,nofacetofaceOnlymachinedeathinthisplace
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
WithhopestogotoheavensgatestheboyslaiddowntheirlivestoFate
ButAsgardiswherethewardeadgo,tobattleon,forevermore
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
Andnoweachdaywithallthedead,theirbloodresoaksthefield,itssaid,
ThatOdinandhiscrowsheretread,toliveforeveroffthedead
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry
SonowtheboysinthisfieldgotojointhosefromtheAlamo
AndboysfromBoyneandWoundedKnee,Gettysburg,Somme,andTripoli
Oneeyedmanwithagrizzledbeardwalksacrossabloodsoakedfield
Twocrowsroundtheoldmanflytheycawandfeastasmaidenscry

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
January19,2015
Hushing,hushinglittlebaby
Layyourheaddownandsleep,maybe
Hushing,hushinginthedream
Youwillvisitlandsyou'veneverseen
InTheDreamingoffyoufly
Tothelandwhereangelshigh
Singinchoirsandtheydance
Oerthemagiclandstheyprance
Hushing,hushinglittlebaby
Layyourheaddownandsleep,maybe
Hushing,hushinginthedream
Youwillvisitlandsyou'veneverseen
January21,2015
Irememberloss
butIcan'tremembergain,
apessimist'scurse
January21,2015
Snowing,snowing,windisblowing,crowsarecrowing,snowballthrowing,
Agooddayforbrightforgoing,snowing,snowing,snowing,snowing
Snowing,snowing,ladiessewing,let'sgetgoing,fire'sglowing
Agooddayforsteelsledtowing,snowing,snowing,asitsnows.
Snowing,snowing,windisblowing,crowsarecrowing,snowballthrowing,
Agooddayforsoftunknowing,snowing,snowing,snowing,snowing
Snowing,snowing,let'sgetslowing,tv'sshowing,windisblowing
Crowsarecrowing,let'sgetgoing,let'sgetslowing,asitsnows.
January22,2015
thebrightsunraysstrike
likepellets,sharpupontin
andmyskinreddens

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
January24,2015
Winterisacomingin
Softlysing,ohno!
Theseedsarehiding
Theflowersarehiding
Thewoodandleafarehidingbelow
Sing,ohno!
Theewehishuddledinherbarn
Thecowislowinginthehay
Thebullockissnuggleduptothem
Thebillygoatisfarting
Softlysing,ohno!
Ohno!ohno!
Yousingokay,ohno!
Itmayneverstopnow
January27,2015
broken,she,dreamless,wakesandiscrying;
staringintoaneternalvoid,
anelephantintheroomremains,unspoken;
banishingthought,
sheforcessleepfromhereyes,
standsbythebed
andwearilysighs;
hervoiceechoes,emptily
andsheredsupherroomtoforget

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
January31,2015
thebeginning
ofourformation
weexperienceinformation
seepoverty,pollution,andstarvation
andwediscoverourvocation
toserveallnations
auniversalacclamation
ofHislove
thedove
Hesentincollaboration
toguideouraspirations
tocharismforreplication
inworkfilledjubilation
andnotinisolation
buttoconquerseparation
throughtheveneration
ofHisson
theonesent
downforemulation
aperfectimitation
athoroughdramatization
oftrueemancipation
pointingtotheillumination
ofhumanization
theend
February1,2015
Joyreadingthethoughts
ofmyfamily;living
wordsfeedthesadsoul
February2,2015
whenstandinginlight,darknessblindsustotheuniversebeyond
but,whenresidinginshadow,tooursouls,heaven'sstarsarespawned
so,inwinter'sdark,look,see,feel,perceive,know,andrespond

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
February3,2015
shortgrasspluckedforcrops
thenduststormsovercomesoil
ghostfarmsandasphalt
February4,2015
turningtheignition
thoughitisashortdistance
inhaste,befouling
February4,2015
Reaching,seeing,laughing
Behindaclearwallofglass
"Hellobalashark"
February5,2015
awakeinthenight
indifferentdarknessholdsme
thisisrathernice
February6,2015
confinedindoors,
detainedbythesnow,
inrestlessvexation;
itiswinter,though
February7,2015
inheaven,shining
spiritsecstaticallysing;
butinremaining,
lonesome,soakedtissues,wewring

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
February8,2015
mysonandwifesleep
downstairsIwrite,Irevise
asplendidmorning
February10,2015
connectedtoyou,
weareonebody,allied;
butworkdistancedus
February12,2015
awake,tired,unsleeping
astirringphenomena
memoriesrehashing,rekeeping
this,simplyinsomnia
February14,2015
Snowgathersonthebranches
Entrancing,awhitelaceddress
Lessandmorethansummerclothes
Posingforweddingphotos

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
February15,2015
penetratingcold
abriskchillbitesthroughyourcoat
butI'llstayinside
February16,2015
hereinmymountains
trappedinsidebecause
thecoldistoocold
formybabyson
andthoughIamnotabiologist
ifIunderstand
aglaciermelted
indistantlands
andrefrigeratesthe
Pacificocean
andsoImuststay
hereinmymountains
trappedinsidebecause
thecoldistoocold
formybabyson
Imisstheoutside
wherethebirdsallsing
ofbirdthings
andthetreeswhisper
ofdaysgoneby
whenoldmen
stayed,
spenttheirwholelives
andwerebaptizedand
married,
fished,anddied
inonesingleplace

SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
February18,2015
Thedustatourfeet
andagesofstruggleare
markedonourforeheads
February19,2015
flyingthroughtheclouds
sittingonanexplosion
linesdrawninthesky
February27,2015
prestigearrives,but
wouldn'titbenicerto
beofferedajob?
February28,2015
Weareontheearth
intheearthandoftheearth;
Weeateachother
March8,2015
Herecomesthesunshine
Everybodylovesthesun
Afterthegrimcold
March11,2015
Theweatherimproves
butyoulinger
Forweeksnow
anunwelcomeclinger
Rough,sore,drythroat,
whydoyoulinger?

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
March14,2015
Please,screamingbaby
Givemeashortbreak;mummy
Expectsmetoclean
March16,2015
Hellothere,myvoice,
wouldyouconsiderreturning?
SoImightsing!
April1,2015
Downonthecreekside
asparkleoffool'sgold;and
memoriesIlove
April3,2015
Agony,asthetorment,knowingwhathastocome
Scourging,abodyruinedbylash'sthrum
Crowning,asmocking,raucousvoicesjeer
Carrying,oursin'sweight;theenddrawsnear
Dying,andacquittingthegoodandthebad
ShouldIbesad,mad,orglad?
April4,2015
Igrasptheslimbranchesonthelimb
thesesmallbudsseemfullofpulsingblood
aspotentialmeetsessentialinearlySpring
Butnotyet,thelimb,fragileandwet
inearlyApril,whenfrostiscapableofburning
thelifeturninggrowthofthething
Andwhatisitwhenmythoughtsaresplit
amongthousandsofprospects,surroundedbyhope,
inaworriedgropingthatinbetweensbring
Notwinterandnotayoungsprinter
norsummer,noautumncomer
intheseamsoffatesasIwaittosing

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
April5,2015
Walkingthroughthepark
withbabyinthestroller
whatalovelyday
April6,2015
upclearbluepureness,
well,clearish;acontrailcuts
likeatuningfork
April7,2015
thesunrises,sets
andtime,awheelstillspinning
mayyetacquiesce;
stoppinginjoyorstrife,
asuffocatingshark,sinking
totheunderworld,yes,
sincemovementislife
April7,2015
overclayedhillside
theframeworkhovered,failing
wedon'twantyourbricks
April8,2015
Let'sgoouttotheballgame
wherechildrenshoutindelight!T
ossmetheballandthenwecanplaycatch,
intournamentseasonthere'smatchaftermatch,
andsobattingpracticecanstartnow
andwecanhito'erthefence,
forit'sthree,two,oneminuteleftl
etthegamecommence!

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
April8,2015
apumpernickel
pizzawithfriedsourpickles?
mustbepregnancy!
April11,2015
Mythos
wasborn
withthefirstcampfirestory
spookilyexpressed
astheembers
soslowly
expired
andthen
withatwist
allofasudden
inhisglory
thetale
ended
April18,2015
agustblewinfromthecoalmines
andburstforthfromcarpenters
andteachers,truckandbusdriversagaleagainstthesadwall
thewallofdespairanddisengagement
ofweakness,andfear,andbadwill
thewallofoppressionmustcrumble
whenthewindsoftheworkerswillwail
April19,2015
forgrandma
onFerris'swheel,suchasmile
suchjoy,suchyouth,suchhappiness
andontwirlingridessuchstrengthofneck
andcharm;cheerstoyourfiercescrappiness
toyourlifewelllivedinwondrous,comforting
livingandnow,we'vemissedyouawhile
andsoIthinkonthisbeautifulmorning
ofyourbeautiful
Ferris'swheelsmile

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
April19,2015
intheeveninghour,therumbleoftheairpurifiersounds
whitenoise,adrumroll,steadyandunrelenting
carscrescendoanddecrescendowithnorecognizablepattern
Ilistentothesoundscapeandhearnothingnatural
butmynoseasIbreath,allergiesagain
April20,2015
atreegrowingfromanoval,centeredandthennot
adobehousesandabarnonthelot
ablueskyabovewherethemoongotcaught
peopleatwork,butnotontheplot
wherearethecrops,thelifethatought
tobeinthesoil,thesand,Ithought
April22,2015
EarthDay
awareofourwaste,
promisingtolivesimply,
wecelebrateearth
April23,2015
CherryBlossoms
beautyflourishes
forameremoment;andthen
justlivesoninthoughts
April21,2015
thecareerman
andsohestruggled
forthetopofthemountain
andthen,instress,died.

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
April24,2015
youmightgetcaramel
oryoumightgetraspberry
orjustcoconut
April26,2015
withoutmachinesandengines
constructionsofthemind
allanswerstoallquestions
wouldbesohardtofind
butinthoughtfulsuggestions
ofscholarsandtheunrefined
sayanswerstoallquestions
areactuallynear,inkind
April27,2015
littlefoldedleaves
emergefromanengorgedbud
potentialenacted
April29,2015
Spaceshipsthroughthestars'lightsglidewhile
Ghettosdownbelowsubsideand
Iamoutofwordsandall
MeinsolitarythoughtwhileEtalalltheworkhaswrought
theseBallswejugglewhenwetaught
likeSpaghettimeatballs.

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
April29,2015
Whatgoodispoetry?
Thatwon'tputfoodonyourtable
Orsendyourkidstocollege
OrnukeNagasaki,whereSt.Francispreached
Orsendamantothemoon
onthebackofancientsunlight
explodingyet
CONTROLLED
April30,2015
likedarkfertilesoil
orsaltintheearth;mothers
nurturegrowthorloss
May10,2015
WhenIwashelpless
youheldmeinyouarms
youaremymother
August17,2015
Inunbearablesilence
Ihearmydying,
Andsilencethissilencewithsoftglowingnoises
September1,2015
howheehowhee
herorangebeakstealsasunflowerseed
achargeforhermusic

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
September2,2015
Insummerwhenthechildrenplay
Thebirdssoftsingandbreezesoftblows
Butsummer'stoosoongoneaway
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Withfourwallsroundatiedressedman
Withthoughtsofsandsstuck'tweenhistoes
Thesesunsoakedmemoriessoonwillwane
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
It'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Thesesunsoakedmemoriessoonwillwane
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Nowlockedinproduct,producedtogleam
Hereandthereandbackweflow
Butcompletelyunlikesummerstreams'
Causeit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
It'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
Thesesunsoakedmemoriessoonwillwane
Andit'sbacktobusinessweallgo
September3,2015
Plopplop;acornsdrop
Onlivingsoilhalfaware
Thatleaveswilltrailbehind
September4,2015
ThenewsgavemebluessoIhadtoputitaway,
ThenewsgavemebluessoIhadtoputitaway,
I'lllearnabouttomorrowwhateverybody'ssayingtoday.
IcanfrownandfeelandsufferwithpeopleIdon'tevenknow,
IcanfrownandfeelandsufferwithpeopleIdon'tevenknow,
ButthepeopleherebesidemefallawayandIdon'tevenknow.
AndsoI'mputtingdownthecable,atleastfortwoorthreedays,
I'mputtingdownthecable,atleastfortwoorthreedays,
I'msuchaspartanpersonwhenthecable'soutanyway.

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
September10,2015
Love
lighterthanafeather
andheavierthantheuniverse
liftingmeasananchorinhardseas
freeingmeasacell
whilebombshellsraindownoutside
September11,2015
SittingInfrontofaTVBoxsquare,oldInateacher'sloungeWatchingthesmoke
billowing...
Upward,gray
NewsofmoreasItaughtSendingkidshomeearly
Fearfulness,likebeingpunchedinthegut
Thecounselorsaidhewassorry
Why?
BecausehewasMiddleEastern?
Becausefrightenedanimalsbite?
Andinnocentsareoftenbittenwiththeguilty?
September13,2015
Nothing
Ihavelivednoplace
likealeafblowninthewindthroughmuchofmyyouthwithnoroots,therein
AndI'vehadnofriends
orI'velostthemtoofastorI'veneglectedtocall
andfriendshipsfailedtolast
AndI'vehadnoGodwhenthetowersfelldown
Ilostfaithforatime
butthenIcamebackaround
AndI'vesungnosongembarrassedtosingandI'vehatedmyvoiceandit'snasallyring
Butdespiteallofthis
I'velivedlikeakingbecausewhileI'velostoneoranother
I'veneverhadnothing.

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
September14,2015
aholyleader
isaservanttothepoor;
teachingbydoing
September15,2015
Icouldn'tsleepatalllastnight
Itwastheusualcause
thathappensbyandby
It'sthesweetbyandby,that'sright
thedingofababy'scry
September15,2015
theLeafmaywellsmellthechillinSeptember
andchangetoayelloworsoftredblouse;
shelaysonthegroundbyherfriendsinNovember
anddescendstoherchill,darkwinterhouse
September19,2015
Theysayclimatechangeain'tnothin'anddoomsayersarejustsayin'butscotchtapecan't
holdleveestogetherwhenwindscomeblowin'in.
TheyseethewatersrisinginKiribatiislandandSamoatooandalsoinManhattan
Theysayclimatechangeain'tnothin'anddoomsayersarejustsayin'butscotchtapecan't
holdleveestogetherwhenwindscomeblowin'in.
WhenthewatersriseandPhilly'sbytheseawhathappenstoACLAorMiami?
Theysayclimatechangeain'tnothin'anddoomsayersarejustsayin'butscotchtapecan't
holdleveestogetherwhenwindscomeblowin'in.
September22,2015
thinking;
aleafliftsfromitsstem,
thatpermanencefromwhichallmust

disconnect

September26,2015
ourfreedomofspeech
protectsthenobleand
ignoblealike

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
September27,2015
inyesteryearswhennightswereclearandmoonsglowedbrightandeeriethesagesoft
sangofthehoofandthefangthatrangwithagedtonessodreary
thatwomenloudweepedinsorrowsodeepaslossandcrossweresoruddywithwolves
andbearsanddeathsandscaresandbloodmoons,whichwereoftenbloody
aroundthefiretheepicsmostdireoncoldnightsfrighteningandlonelyhuddledtogether,
avertingthenetherprayingtoghostsorGodonly
tostaveoffthedeath,andthepain,andlastbreaththatchasesandraceseachmortalto
carryawaywhenthereaperbetraystotheheavenlyorofthellishportal
whenstoriesweresongandnightsweresolongandlightsweresuchpreciouscommodity
theirpowerwasgreatandtheycarriedgreatweightastogetherweheldeveryoddity
September28,2015
apoemaday
aplaceforplay
atimetoshakeyoursorrowsaway
aplacewheretheFae
inspiretheway
there,astray
weandtheyenlightenthegrayinafaraway
replayofnaivet
inoldBombay
wemakeourwaywepreyandpray
wesingalldaywithapoemaday
September29,2015
coffeearoma
fillsthecar;lukewarmdespair
onMondaymornings
October10,2015
thebleakmoon
whenthebleakmoonissofto'rthisgraveyardatnightanddimlightshinesonghostand
onphantomthechillofadarknessfallsandcruellybiteswhenthebleakmoonissofto'r
thisgraveyardatnightyoudescrythesongsofeerienightmaresinflightandperceive
whatyourmindcanscarcefathomwhenthebleakmoonissofto'rthisgraveyardatnight
anddimlightshinesonghostandonphantom

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SelectedPoemsFromOurWritersBlock
October25,2015
Todaymywakingheart
embracesautumnwinds
withfamily,

home

October27,2015
Ithinkyouhadplenty
ifnot,atleast
theflooris
w
e
l
l

f
e
d
October27,2015
littlebearrovesinthiscopse
yellowleavesbelowhispaw
inGod'sglory,standsandstops
justasecond,inthiscopse
November5,2015
sittinginquakersteak
fuzzyorganmusic
unpatientwaiting
November5,2015
Tworosesamongdeadstems
Likeaminuet
Exceptinanyway
January15,2016
"sillysteamies"
mummy'svoice
echoedbyDieselTen

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