The Poetry Marathon

Hour 14

9/2/2023

“A Moment’s Hope…”

Close your eyes

and listen – just listen,

you CAN hear

a heartbeat

…cry, even your own.

Eyes stare from tenement windows,

to the dark – beyond AND within,

and Electronic rooms beckon –

so filled with ether whispers.

…Whispers that tease and cajole

spirits lost in a moment’s hope

caught up in empty dreams

living empty promises, alone.

Is a world of tears that beckons,

a world of fears surround.

We wish so much for so little

to feel so utterly frail –

when we realize

we don’t even know how to reach,

and clues don’t come cheap.

Friends matter – tread lightly

hold hands and breathe.

Question, ’cause trust is earned not given.

Know what you risk before you reach

and listen to your gut.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 13

9/2/2023

“Dunes…”

I’ve wandered far – both life and world

coasts and deserts

both salt and clear,

and life itself – God’s touch was near.

And found the “dunes” of life that entrap the living

with the sands that bind within hourglass forms

’til life is held so tight and dear.

Our dunes bear no Melange to guide our sight.

Nothing to pause the mires of life that draw

and imprison our very souls.

Each step, each pause, each breath – brings neither peace

nor surcease… the motion of emotion buries then embalms.

And I’ve wandered the echoes behind our eyes

seen the release of wormsign to come.

Prayed to a silent God who KNEW what was

and will be.  And felt the Son bring a smile.

Walk with me…

beside – neither behind nor ahead.

Share the vision that holds us close and free.

And understand what it is to be “we”.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 12

9/2/2023

“Curbside…”

We used to have 8 inch high – curbs

really!

Great for sitting and sharing

that KNOWING pause of wisdom –

just behind our eyes…

Then they repaved and repaved,

and repaved

’til the roads are higher than the sidewalks

– go figure.

And ya KNOW they never saw THAT coming!

Now the porch steps are the “curbs”

we sit upon,

and our shared “wisdom” varies to the risks

we are willing to take –

to reach beyond ourselves

when life so often happens at hand.

This is a quiet place –

even Mormons seldom pause.

Squirrels and the odd hawks wander by.

We even lose trees

and that is beyond rare elsewhere.

Secret gardens,

whom to call for repairs…

replacing blinds;

dealing with plumbing; furnace spiders

(the ones that block the gas feed lines inside).

Kibitzing on each manager’s  method

of dealing with issues only they seem to see.

Always “Us” vs “them” ’til it isn’t.

Here its relatively safe, sedate,

quiet (’til it isn’t), and friendly (’til you’re irked).

“Curbs” to live by.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 11

9/2/2023

“Walking…”

Used to run

upwards of 8 miles a day overall

left the Corps – promised never again

kept it too!

This year has been rough –

way more than I knew…

hospital stays for doing what a doc said

and trusting what I was told…

but ya HAVE TO get done

each thing BEFORE you move on

– or ya WON’T move on.

So I have and will

…we deal as we must.

Is important to MOVE

when things hurt…

you can walk through it –

but not sit …not sit.

I use a walking stick

NOT A CANE!

Is a stick – for balance

and steadiness over rough,

uneven surfaces.

Ya don’t bend, lean,

or walk like an old crip.

Ya stand tall and sure

and move with authority –

and yes retaining a level of pride.

I wander the road…

share voices and hello’s

breath deep

step sure

and taste my strength

and will to be – to exist

to live

and I still care

about and for those …near.

I’ve neighbors

and we share words

and thoughts… and frustrations…

and needs.  We DO things,

necessary things – we help

as only we can

because we CAN and know

no other way.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 10

9/2/2023

Yeah is THAT time!

“3’rd Wednesday Of The Month…”

Is it?  It IS!  cool,

took long enough this month –

21 flipping days …sigh.

Gather lists …checked weekly flyers today

electronically clipped any coupons of possible use

(though ya KNOW ya can’t – but is what

“possibles” bags are for)…yesterday.

Need gas – damn, higher this week – but ya can’t walk,

too old – too far – and CARRY?? sheesh.

Cut something out… yeah, something.

Milk, eggs, bread – storebrand; ya save

over what you used to get –

but that was last month

…nickel and dime ya to death.

“Just one direction anymore …up.”

Veggies – lettuce salad – still got Ranch…

2 – Oh…1 tomato – Roma, will have to do.

Potatoes …a pack of 4 – maybe add a small bag of rice

– that can work.

2 lemons CAN’T cost that much…

sigh, yeah they do… one then – C’Mon, make do.

Green beans look good this time – nah,

storebrand cans yeppers…

leaves enough for some beets

– something different…

Deli – no real deals,

but I can look and remember

– is still allowed.

pre-packaged has a sale…

I can splurge if I trade… “Go for it!”

Dairy – quart vs half-gallon, mix it with dry

an ya can barely taste the dif

– well, if its cold or in something.

Butter is on sale! No, no – gotta trade,

one pound margarine – it spreads thinner, will do.

Coupon for the store cheese! Oh yeas!

Meat – deal on Bacon,

leaves enough for a roll of Ground Beef

(damn if I’ll eat those damned BUGS!).

Whole Amish chicken is a better deal than pack of parts…

well, I Do have knives!

Shelves – 2 lb bag of short grain rice,

canned veggies,

damn, even soup is up again…

1.89 WITH the coupon.

“How in the world does my neighbor feed

her hubby and her two kids and THEIR two kids,

and a hubby too!”

Check out:  don’t do self serve

– forgot a loaf of bread last month,

would’ve thought I was a Bank Robber!

– I just missed it, got lost following the screen.

Ya know – Touch Screens don’t always work

for some of us – anyways…

I know I’m slow but at least I try

– people in lines can be so …mean.

“Was an extra ten this time.”

Register lady just softly nodded…

I’ll deal, ya have too, winters comin’.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 9

9/2/2023

“Starlight…”

Twilight pauses my evening

as I await dreams and wishes

til the darkness inhabits the land.

Can you see the faire folk

…gather?

Pause, partner, and begin to swirl?

Can you hear and FEEL the breath of melody

arise as the air begins to shimmer and flow?

And the music – The MUSIC, meanders

and whispershouts so!

And the taste, The TASTE – of LIFE

as it flavors your lips,

’til your tears softly leak as you’re left behind.

And the danse – their DANSE, holds you so –

visions of when the world was aglow.

The times of dreams across all the lands

as the star’s light is held

within gracious hands…

as the pipes lightly sing of wonders to be

and the star’s light shimmers so wondrously.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 8

9/2/2023

“Olde Towne…”

Whispers shared and visions

of wonders… walls and spaces

adorned, all aglimmer with sight’s worth view.

Windows leak dreams made real

and pause-you-in-your-tracks favors

of times hauntingly past.

Themes of could’ves, would’ves, mights, and

even wannabes – caress minds and eyes,

held conscious by themes expressed

while smiles – leak from inside.

Foods of choice to try palates tastes,

Galleries reflecting sheens and whims,

brush strokes holding each visitor’s wish.

Art by the block – each a differing view

of life and its touch – rhyme, reason,

and depth.

I’ve wandered this world.

Paused, dreamt, and wished

and returned just to …touch life,

yet once again.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 7

9/2/2023

“A Study Of Self…”

Academia has changed the meanings and syllable count for the forms of Senryu, Haiku, and Tanka.  They are still elegant and meaningful …just not quite what would be expected by “purists” of old (nor the new ones).

Abuse touches…

leaving moments to echo

a life’s time.

Lighting candles

in memory of a girl

who laughed.

But not ever AT me…

Just life.

There ARE monsters.

Some even survive their touch,

most wish they hadn’t.

God took everyone

and everything,

except my feet.

And I’ve wandered this world –

one step at a time.

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba…

Doubly fenced and protected perimeter,

their guards, our guards:

I saw a circus…

but the artists died –

on the barbed wire

separating their prison

from our freedoms.

And on and on

it goes:

Life as we live it –

is seldom as we want it.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 6

9/2/2023

“Solitary…”

Seems a commonality shared within our understanding and even the acceptance of the word “solitary” for what it is.  But is it “shared” or is it just that we each have our own unique ‘bars’ behind our eyes?

A Roman Catholic Seminary,

The United States Marine Corps;

years of doing, living,

a wandering will-o’-the-wisp –

I couldn’t even buy a social clue…

but strangers HAD to tell ME

their hurts and of the abuse and abrasions

to their souls… ’cause at least I WOULD listen.

Trust isn’t given – it’s earned,

and people have their own agendas,

their own ways.

Eating is a hell of a habit to break

and hunger is not a choice.  Some scam

but,they can still be human.

You come to see that most often

…people… “settle” –

for someone (anyone) to

share a path.

They may be good,

or bad;

but, most often afterwards –

they HAVE to change the other into their OWN vision

of what they want a partner to BE.

Then the “changing” of a person becomes the priority

– until –

the changes take away the person that was

OR the intended changee becomes so frustrated

and angry with giving up themselves.

For the most part – we DON’T choose

whom we love, just whom we like.

Loneliness is real

and it builds and builds

as false hopes are dashed,

and wishes fail and fall by the waysides –

fill our world, flavor our lives.

And we grow our own “bars” behind our eyes –

seeking to keep our feelings and emotions hidden

as our only way of dealing rather than take

another (or even any) chance at all

that COULD hurt… or crash our uni-verse.

Reaching means risk, risk means – it could hurt.

Loneliness wins and each of us pays a price.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023

Hour 5

9/2/2023

“Learning How To Be Ashamed…”

Shame isn’t a naturally happening trait.  No one is born with it It takes learning and practice and living and …well, I guess it’s a gift that keeps on giving – ya know?

I remember being taught I was “poor”.

Yeah, really.  I got an “A” in Poor.

Just some of the lessons:

Catholic school –

the parish covered my tuition,

but not the books

nor a lunch

nor the required uniform(s)

(and I grew too – sigh),

and the “lessons” were ALWAYS in public,

and always discussed – aloud.

My then stepdad was union…

he was out for months and months on strikes –

you COULD buy butter by the stick, single eggs,

some staples by the ounce, was mom and pop stores (single room) even a Grocer (BIG room and Shelves of couldn’t haves –

there was even credit IF you were deemed “Worthy”

(and that capital was meant BECAUSE it had a cost) –

some were NEVER worthy; I was deemed a thief,

though I didn’t EVER take a thing, but I was POOR –

they said …so guilty.

Mom was always a black sheep of the family –

and dads came and went…

tenements and so many broken dreams followed us.

During one strike they gave away my dog –

to the mayor no less

and HE took it too.

I learned how to read and sight memorize

a textbook – in a day

’cause they didn’t give books on credit

and dollars took months – when you could.

Ever hear, “What’s that trash doing in MY house?”

as you studied from a book you couldn’t buy

or even borrow ’cause it is needed EVERY day…

yeah, shame is learned…

And when you’re ‘tween dads and “uncles” –

you walk the miles to an aunt’s house,

to ask (mom said) for what could be spared.

And the meanness …yeah, shame takes practice –

and ya get to stand in the kitchen, while they eat

in the dining room… and you HEAR what gets said,

ya hear and shrink and shrink more each time.

You CAN forgive, but never forget…

Yeah, ya learn.

You never really escape,

but you “deal”

’til ya die.

Chris

(C) Chris Twyford 9/2/2023