City Lights Books

Shawna’s Blog

Support writing, poetry and the arts by supporting Woodland Pattern in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Continue to Support this wonderful book center, Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 East Locust Street, Milwaukee WI 53212 (414) 263-5001 E-Mail: woddlandpattern@sbcglobal.net Wed Site: www.woodlandpattern.org/

On January 31st there was the 15th Annual Poetry Marathon & Benefit from 10am until 1am.

150 Poets read for 5 minutes each and over 400 people attended. Every hour on the hour for 15 hours, the room seemed change with listeners of the muses of many. It was my second year and it was fun reading and receiving the love as our 4-5pm MC ask the listeners. A years membership is $35 and supports great readings, workshops and special events. Join from far and near. If I ever figure out how to put my grand-daughter's 5 minutes today at a 5th Grade poetry reading I will. The kids were wonderful. Thanks for your support of poetry! the arts! the world!

trails of smoke and then...

Poem to Palestinian Mothers yesterday in response to a picture of rockets landing on children and families, supported by the government of the USA:

trails of smoke
falling into my village
not the trails of angels but of violence
against my family, my neighbors even those I do not get along with
why?
Why?
why?
trails of smoke from the rockets
marked by the USA
sold to the killing nation of Israel
to kill the innocents
trails of smoke in the sky
run for cover
pray for peace, yes, peace
and maybe quiet...

don't eat alone: my inaugural poem

Taking Refuge

Taking Refuge

To take refuge in the Buddha means acknowledging the seed of enlightenment that is within ourselves, the possibility of freedom. It also means taking refuge in those qualities which the Buddha embodies; qualities like fearlessness, wisdom, love and compassion.

Taking refuge in the Dharma means taking refuge in the law, in the way things are; it is acknowledging our surrender to the truth, allowing the Dharma to unfold within us.

Taking refuge in the Sangha means taking support in the community, in all of us helping one another towards enlightenment and freedom.

(From my work at Fox Lake, Red Granite & New Lisbson Correctional Institutions with the Sanghas' )

Not Listening...a poem, roaming NYC

Not Listening

Everyone is talking…into plastic

Not talking to others, not living

Turn it off…

See eye ball to eye ball

Belly button to belly button

Be human not digital

Love, baby love! 6/17/06 NYC koshin