brian shivers

the stars are known      by name each spoken into existence within the dark expanse of the universe in response, they shine as if there was nothing else      they could do,      they would do,      they should do their effulgence called out from within      their depths something of unique and timeless beauty exists where once there appeared to only be nothingness now radiance everything forever changed   — bshivers 

I thought I heard your voice speak  my name, but I wasn’t sure if it was you.  It may have been the creativity of my own  imaginings betraying the longings of my heart.  Perhaps it was only the sound  of the wind whistling past my ear.  Or was it my own voice projected outside  myself aching to be heard, at least, at last,  by me? I hope it was you.  I turned my head to catch a glimpse of you, and what you might look like. Yet what I saw was the people whose souls   and bodies filled the room.  I did not see you . . . unless . . . unless you were present, right there, in their midst, in their presence,  whispering my name on the breeze of their every breath reminding me that I am remembered, that I am loved, that  my name is a song worth singing.  Yes, today I heard your voice speak my name  silently  in the depths of me.    — bs...

(a poem) her name is      Rahab but they call her      a harlot      a prostitute           as if one can do that                alone           or                by choice they mock her      behind her back all in an attempt to strip her of her      humanity      narrative      dignity      identity      story      life yet, there she stands      in power in the pages of history an important      person a transformative      influence a woman a mother      of hope Rahab in a world that would rather      silence her           than hear her           ...