A Collection of Short Poems by Stephanie Shaw
In the literary world, poetry always has a place in the forefront. It is deeply personal in a different way from prose. As a young man back in the day, when I thought of poetesses, women like Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, Ntozake Shange, and Maya Angelou came to mind. Today, I bring to you Stephanie Shaw’s Snippets of Love and Other Pesky Emotions.
When we think of the word love, it brings with it an entire array of connotations and emotions. Romantic love, familial love, agape love, requited and unrequited love are included, as is heartbreak and loss. Shaw’s poems are short yet potent with the emotions therein. “Unrequited” reminds me of having a crush and pining for someone you can never have. “Imagine” took me back to the Temptations’ 1971 hit, “Just My Imagination.” “Awaiting” speaks of those who’ve been burned and are guarding their hearts.
In her collection, Shaw shares poems about the joy of being in love, such as “In Love Again,” “Joyful,” and “All I Want.” There is the passionate love of “Sated,” “Sensual,” and “Burning.” And there is the downside of love, as expressed in “Fading Away,” “Ashes,” “A Coming Storm,” and “Ice Cold.” “Pensive” could be seen both as love lost and grief over the death of a loved one. “Better Days” gives us hope. These are but a sample of Shaw’s heartfelt style.
I love Shaw’s concept in her poetry that less is more. I can easily visualize her sharing her work at a Spoken Word event to a rapt audience. After all, love is something everyone can relate to, whether you’re walking on air or sitting at your kitchen table reaching for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
Her collection is available on Amazon, as well as her upcoming works, The Fanged Witch and The Trip to Nowhere. Hat tip to you, Steph, for poetry par excellence!
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
