Everything Is Shouting, Wake Up

“Everything Is Shouting, Wake Up” is the title poem for my next book of poetry to be released in June 2022. Keep posted for more poems and info on release date

I linvite you to attend the Monday Night Poetry Reading at Sacramento Poetry Center where I will be a featured poet along with William O’ Daly, known for his superb translations of Pablo Neruda’s poetry. The event will be held on zoom and you can join at the link below:

Monday, April 4, 2022 @ 7:30 PM PST
Sacramento Poetry Center
Socially Distant Verse Zoom Room
https://sacpoetrycenter.org

Everything Is Shouting, “Wake up!”

Everything is shouting, “Wake up!”.
We may prefer it to be birdsong at sunrise
or childish excitement for a special day, but
when circumstances choose us,
it’s an invitation to show our nobility.
And when our love-child heart is laid bare
We can speak ten thousand ways
to shrink from or rise to greatness.

Everything keeps shouting, “Wake up!”
It may not quell the clamoring brood
or dignify our brutish descent from stars
but we will be doing what we came here for:
meeting life head on, saying, “shape me,
sharpen me, or shatter me” because
we do not know what cut will crown us
or what rub will reveal a facet’s brilliance

© Nick LeForce
All Rights Reserved

and everything will keep shouting,
“Wake up!”as if to say, “One day
you’ll find your clarity and the light
will go on. Until then, don’t speak
in a tongue that is not yours and
every time life asks for your heart,
give it.”