The Poetry Marathon

Red soaks into white

Stains spread, veining through fibres

Life bleeds into death

No stick nor stone has

Ever broken any bone of mine

Bruises come and go

But a word can cut right through me

The pen is mightier than the sword

The tongue is sharp as steel

No deeper wound I’ve felt

Here I go again

Retreating into the shell

My own private hell

Perhaps a word could coax me out

It would help to have a friend here

But no one calls my name

Outside there is silence

Are you hungry, little lady?

Well tonight you dine on dust

Don’t you wish to eat it?

Well you must, my dear, you must

Don’t try to wash it down with tears

The salt stings all the more

He pointed with a finger at the crooked mantle clock

The pendulum ceased swinging

The cogs succumbed to rust

He pointed with a finger and the hands they pointed back

Are you tired now, dear woman?

Tonight you’ll sleep in dirt

If it helps to quell your fears

I can promise you won’t hurt

Are you famished, little man?

Well tonight you dine on ash

There’s no use being fussy

Come now, don’t be rash

Don’t try to trade another’s place

If they go, you still go too

He turned and made a gesture toward the setting sun

The light was fading quickly

There came the faintest plash

He turned and made a gesture and his footprints filled with blood

Are you exhausted now, dear sir?

Tonight you’ll sleep in flame

If it helps you go in peace and grace

Just know you all end up the same

Pale and dark he was at once

Slight, but looming too

They had never seen his face

Yet knew him when he came

He beckoned and they dragged their feet

But followed all the same

[Running a little behind on time, not unlike the White Rabbit with his pocket watch, I opted for a simple form and simple subject. A fluffy little cinquain.]

Rabbit

Timid, Tim’rous

Bouncing, Feeding, Breeding

White in Winter, Brown in Summer

Bunny

[A minute poem, one of my favourite forms]

Buried under layers of lies

Secret whispers

Quiet wagers

Viral rumours

Hidden beneath social graces

Loaded questions

Double meanings

Vicious smiles

Riding high upon their horses

Accusations

Condemnations

Hypocrites all

Marionette, be merry!

I give the strings a yank

Awake!

Feel the strings control you

Feel them guide you

Feel them bind you

But smile, marionette

Be merry!

Dance a little jig

Stand up, marionette!

I’ll make you

You’re nothing but a toy

Feel the strings enfold you

Hold you

And as I lift you

Feel them hang you

But smile, marionette

Be merry!

Let us play pretend

Make yourself a liar

Choke!

Keep us entertained

Be everybody’s plaything

Chafe!

Give us pleasure for your pain

Marionette, be merry!

I give the strings a jerk

Alert!

Feel the strings instruct you

Feel them force you

Feel them stop you

But smile marionette

Be merry!

Do a pirouette

Fall down, marionette

I’ll let you

Your spine is but a twine

Feel the strings release you

Cease you

And as I drag you

Feel them stretch you

But smile, marionette

Be merry!

You’ll have roses at the end

Good luck to all my fellow participants!

Kiss me now

And kiss me quick

Before my father sees

I love you dearly

But he clearly

Disagrees

Speak your love

And speak it fast

Before your mother hears

I have guessed

I manifest

Her fears

Say ‘I do’

And say it soon

Before they find us missing

We’ll be maligned

If they should find

Us kissing

The animal inside awakes

Your body quakes

Mouth grows needy

Fingers greedy

You become a beastly beauty

Deadly cutie

Movements feral

Strip apparel

Ravenously you devour

Full of power

Unabated

Until sated

Rise

Like a wave

Rise

Like a bird

Rise

Like the sun

Rise

Rise

Like mercury

Rise

Like yeast

Rise

Like the tide

Rise

Rise

Above it

Rise

And shine

Rise

To the occasion

Rise