April Poetry: Shannon Borg

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate and highlight our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to again offer daily poetry during April.

Poem Written While Building a House

— by Shannon Borg —

As cripple and trimmer are shot together
to stud to stud to stud, day shot to day,
I’m sorry to say that I won’t have anything
for you, through windows of air
as floor after floor – stanza e stanza
is torn from tree to become room
there are several factors at play, most
of which are the hammerings of mind
the do-this-do-that-do-this-do-that of which
is my computer face, ill and broken, bewintered
with each hand lonely at the end
of my arms, and spring promises lilac, peony,
salmonberry buds, which have been out of commission
due to shooting the nails the nails from the gun
the gun into wood, into form and vestibule and door
for month after month keeps beating, a gun,
a room, day shot to day, a poem
a black blossom falling to the bottom of the ocean.