“Written in Concrete” by Sharon Berg

Poetry Pause is the League of Canadian Poets’ daily poetry dispatch. Read “Written in Concrete” by Sharon Berg.


Written in Concrete

By Sharon Berg

You have surprised me with

the depth of your voice in my ear,

the fact that you want to hear of my day

and share news of yours with me.

You have this way of asserting yourself

into my waking hours, so that I wonder

what you are doing this very minute.

It feels like company and more

the way your interest occupies mine

and I can count on the thrill of

sharing good laughs with you.

We haven’t even met in person

though that day is on the calendar.

I reluctantly excuse myself

from a phonecall to walk the dog,

only to come across your name

written in concrete as I pass

along the sidewalk.

Coincidence?

Or the universe sending a message?


Copyright © Sharon Berg

Sharon Berg has published her stories and poetry in Canada, USA, Mexico, England, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, India, Singapore, and Australia. Her poetry books include: To a Young Horse, Borealis (1979), The Body Labyrinth, Coach House (1984), and Stars in the Junkyard, Cyberwit (2020) was an International Book Award Finalist. She also has three chapbooks of poetry. Her short fiction Naming the Shadows appeared with Porcupine’s Quill (2019). Her nonfiction The Name Unspoken: Wandering Spirit Survival School, BPR Press (2019) won a 2020 IPPY Award for Regional Nonfiction. Sharon conducted interviews with authors of poetry books for the online craft journal Artisanal Writer for 19 issues in 2022/2023 and currently interviews authors for The tEmz Review (London, ON, Canada). She’s published book reviews in ARC, Freefall magazine, The Pacific Rim Review of Books, The Lambton Shield, the League of Canadian Poets website, Event and Poetry Canada Review. Sharon operates Oceanview Writers Retreat at Clode Sound, Terra Nova National Park, in Newfoundland, Canada.


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