Author: Susan Shea

Susan Shea is a retired school psychologist who was born in New York City, and now lives in a forest in Pennsylvania. She feels like she is coming alive again, able to return to writing poetry. Susan has been published in Plainsongs, Pudding, The Bluebird Word, and The Agape Review. Recently Susan has had poems accepted for Last Stanza Poetry Journal, The Bookends Review, Exstasis, Poetry Breakfast, and four anthologies by The Moonstone Arts Center:The Weight of Motherhood, by Wingless Dreamer: Darkness Within Me, by Pure Slush Books: Lifespan Series:Achievement, and by Poet’s Choice: Nostalgia.

HEAL

September 2, 2024September 2, 2024 Susan Shea

I know you wanted to write the story of how you lived over the Chinese restaurant with your family after your father died and you all found out that he gambled away your big fancy home and your dignity and your chance to graduate. I know you only ate bread Read more

Optical Illusion

July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 Susan Shea

I hate to imagine the times I made my mother cry behind the closed door. She wanted to see my face when she looked at her reflection, but I was on the other side of a two-way mirror. I didn’t want to look like her, after seeing her twist and Read more

Stumbling Block

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 Susan Shea

When he found you, you were like a caretaker of living vines. You walked free up and down rows of collected lives, learning their ways, seeing the value in their twists and turns. He licked his lips, shook his jailhouse key in anticipation of the mayhem he would bring your Read more

Misfit

March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 Susan Shea

Young and full of new answers, I remember wanting a pair of red shoes so much I thought half a size smaller wouldn’t matter too much, until a blister made of burning lava told me not to settle for tormenting strolls anymore. But, I still had to learn that slow Read more

ARMED

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Susan Shea

I didn’t want to raise an unarmed saint after seeing my mother wear that role, always waiting for some relief like an unsheared sheep, she walked her muddy field alone until she fell from the weight of her own worsted wool, unable to feed herself. I was powerless then but Read more

HELP WANTED

September 11, 2023September 11, 2023 Susan Shea

Seeking someone to fill perfect mother vacancy. Must be very good-hearted, but not so good as to cause feelings of inadequacy. Must be happy, but not so happy-go-lucky as to cause feelings of jealousy. Must be self-sacrificing, but not so selfless as to teach the wrong message about boundaries. Must Read more