The Poetry Marathon

Walking the streets of Tokyo {redacted} {redacted}

The heat was a lot to take

We stumbled through Temples and Shrines

Occasionally taking a break.

The beauty that surrounded us

The people, places, and Torii gates

Filled my soul with a yearning for more

To learn, {redacted} {redacted}, see new things at any rate.

The splendor of Mt. Fuji

In the distance we could see its peak

Booktown was spectacular

For a bookworm just like me.

We ate melon pan and shaved ice

The {redacted} taiyaki was delicious

Yakitori, tempura, and ramen

Our list of foods, it was ambitious.

I am sure I will go {redacted} one day

But until that day comes

I’ll continue on my journey

To make it {redacted} great {redacted}.

I walk into the classroom, lanyard around my neck

I brace myself, cover my ears, the rooms already wrecked.

Tiny little bodies only three and four years old

Run around, tossing things, acting very bold.

Circle time is like herding cats, first weeks are a strain

Learning about our kiddos can really test our brains.

I see a little boy who is sitting by himself

I grab a dinosaur puzzle for him, I take it off a shelf.

We work on words like big and loud, finally he laughs.

I pretend a dinosaur is just a big and scaled giraffe.

I coax him to use words as we work at the little table

I mostly want to see where he is at, make him feel stable.

We sing and dance, use silly tones to help our kiddos through

Working with such special needs, well, that’s just what we do.

In the darkness I creep, hands in front of my face

I could be in a cave or even outer space

I battle dragons that come from the sky

Great snakes from down below.

I make courageous journeys and let my bravery show

I take great strides to Narnia, and rule there with a smile

I conquer all the fiercest foes and toss them a hundred miles

I scurry through the darkness, like a tiny mouse

My favourite place to play is in a closet in my house.

I have a special coffee cup

I hold it in my hands

Others might not think it much

But I sure do think it’s grand.

It holds a fragrant, dark elixir

That keeps me going through the day

This little coffee cup

Helps me have a lot to say.

If something were to happen to

My precious coffee cup

I’d never make it through another day

I would just have to give up.

So in this ode to a splendid vessel

That assists me to lift off from zero

I salute you my sweet and warm mug

You are definitely my hero.

What is love?
A smile that lights up the room.
Laughter that chases away the gloom.
A whiff of a charming, delicate perfume.
A smile that lights up the room.
Eyes that shine like a flower in bloom
A whiff of a charming, delicate perfume.
With many a day thinking of you
Eyes that shine like a flower in bloom
Laughter that chases away the gloom.
With many a day thinking of you
What is love?

Beet  jacket  tremor  bayou  elbow  lightbulb cinnamon  bucket  elk  carport

While out exploring the bayou
I came across a shimmering lake
It was shaped with an elbow bend
A path beside it I decided to take.
There was a chill in the still air it seemed
My jacket was light, but warm
It was cinnamon in colour
And comfortably embraced my form.
In my hand I carried a bucket which held
A pickled beet so fresh for a snack
As I made my way along the path
A tremor trickled up and down my back.
My eyes lit up as they suddenly beheld
An elk camouflaged within the trees
I waited and watched until he disappeared
The excited trembling extending to my knees.
I slowly made my way back home
A look of wonder shining from my face
As I turned on the lightbulb in my carport
I acknowledged the beauty of the moment with grace.

The melody tumbles through the atmosphere

Ebbing and flowing in a delicate symphony.

Nudging my senses towards a climbing crescendo

Dropping me with the ease of floating imagery.

I detect sadness tinged with melancholy tears

A rush of hope and empathy mixed in.

A cacophony of rushing sounds fills my ears

Like a dawn about to finally begin.

I allow the music to carry me away

To a place where I can follow my dreams.

In a rush of sweet emotion I fly

Where everything is as it seems.

Swinging in a sunflower field

I close my eyes and feel the breeze.

The hum of bees fill the air and

Set my soul at ease.

I let my thoughts flow freely

Swinging in a sunflower field

I daydream about the summer sun

And feel my mind is healed.

With pleasant sounds around me

I sway placidly in my seat

Swinging in a sunflower field

I feel the suns soothing heat.

I open up my eyes and smile

Look around, nothing concealed

I get up, refreshed from my time of

Swinging in a sunflower field.

I take a big step to find the edge of the world.

I look down.

I look to my left.

I see a magnificent waterfall

It is cascading down to bathe the stars,

Splashing droplets into galaxies

Creating rainbows in the moonlight.

I look to my right.

I see a mountain range on the edge

A boulder tumbling

     Down

          Down

               Down

To alight onto the trunk of an elephant below

That is riding on the back of a slow moving turtle.

Skipping, I make my way around the edge

Taking my time, enjoying the view.

Along the way I meet new friends

Learn new things

Try new foods

Take in everything.

Even if the earth is flat,

I plan on being well-rounded.

The room is empty without you here

The music is dull without you near

The world has lost its luster without you dear

I wish that you were here.

Without your presence everything is austere

Without your laughter there is no cheer

Without your voice the silence is clear

I wish that you were here.

There is a chair in the room where you lingered

Rubber ducks stacked on a mat

The sunshine streams through the bare window

I really wish you were here.