Moment of Silence

Poetry by SaM Shields

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Planted in supplication
On the sofa
I
Still
Revere nothing



Bow in contemplation
In my office chair
I
Still
Venerate emptiness

Cacophony of Consummeration, thoughtless voices, meaningless words, purposeless sermons of buzzing insufficiency. Competitive living, warped motivations, callous expectations, eradication of process.  Ambassadorships to brands, ministries in limited characters, procured and traded influence in ersatz vanity. Charlatan friendships, conniving networks, victimhood of Judas, loyalties of convenience. Clamor to follow, hoards to spoon feed, facts have political skews, gods are weapons in convenient blasphemy Prejudice data, cozen sovereign, unfilled promises, glass shatter commitments, cold statistics of success. Desperation of capitalization, debts anchors, anxious opportunism, life is in an actuarial assessment.

Breathe in cogitation
Under a pecan tree
I
Still
Worship the lacuna


Reverie in meditation
In the dark room
I
Still
Honor the void

About the Writer

SaMantha (SaM) Shields is a native Houstonian and graduate of Incarnate Word Academy as well as Houston Baptist University, where she received a dual bachelor’s degree in political science and English.

In 2020, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. Her thesis “Folklore: Rescuing Black America From Its Erroneous and Stereotypical Depictions in Literature” takes oral histories of little-known historical instances and creates new folklore based on them.

Besides teaching and writing, she is an avid traveler. She has been all over the world with her two best friends, her father and wife. The trio last explored Chile and Antarctica. SaM is always looking for the next adventure.