The Poetry Marathon

you are there
___________

city sky
with only
a smattering of stars

no wonder

our dreams have shrunk
to rectangular ones
we hold in our hands.

to see the infinite –
a place surpassing
limits

we are

but specks in
the vastness
where possibilities abound
so much more

than we can know –
how to reclaim
this view

in tune

with its song, would we fight
harder to save this tree, that
that whale, those elephants

because

they matter
as much as the billion stars
we no longer see.

they are there

though just out of sight –
ether of our minds stretched
to hold all that is conceivable

a truth

worth striving for.

a borrowed view
________________

today the wind –
eclipsing bird speak as each claims space
along cedar bough or fence post

against the greying sky –
wing beats of a fly like a
bow-tied helicopter

a hailstorm of chestnut –
husks knocking against the
deck and my head

who eats your leaves –
weaves a trace of light
trickling down

startling shock of pink –
inks your petals now bursting
forth fuschia

wafting sea-salt –
seaweed scented
air

and stalks of rhubarb –
harbouring memories of brown sugar
afternoons

in a time gone by

magic-less
___________

cold dream…
seemed he looked right through me

smile awhile…
inside the moon never think

forever

summer to fall…
too soon to lose a spell of love

but
try

(A Found Poem from Heart’s ‘Magic Man’)

Heigh Ho
____________________

I am the cheese –
even now I count the times
and lose track

I am background noise –
outside the light’s beam
or on the periphery of something

beautiful.

You move on
and on
and on

while I am the one
holding space

room enough

in case you return.

A snuffed candle
leaves a smoke trail –
I am vapour

residue
of the flame.
I am on your clothes
on your tongue
the me
in you.

No child
or cat
or dog
I am the cheese

and your palette
tires of this taste
the flavor of the month
now baklava

but sweet honey
am I for the
connoisseur

so I will wait
on and
on and
on

until

I embrace
my inner cotija –
pour myself a glass
of wine and lift it to
the sky I am.

Here in White Rock, BC and ready to go! Good luck all and have fun!

The random prompt for this morning’s practice round was to write a prose poem about an animal and then add the line and stanza breaks. Due to getting used to uploading the poem again, I thought I better post the draft version so sadly, it isn’t well edited due to time. This gives me a sense of what tomorrow will feel like in ‘real time’.

You are no fluff ball of fur
but short-haired and bright orange,
like the sun during the fire haze.
Your belly is not dragging on the ground
but you flatter for a gluttony of attention

and food.

You are not docile rolls of extra weight
but lean and wild, like a tiger. Your striped
tail harkening to your presence in the young
bamboo shoots where you hide. Instinct
driving your haunches low to the ground

for hunting.

You do not greet me at the door when my
work day is done but come running to see
me, anyway. Even when cars make the
way dangerous. Your two-syllable name
rolling off my tongue easily, as if you

were mine.

Welcome to all the new-to-the-marathon folks! I have only participated in one but loved it! I guess I will re-introduce myself, too. When I last entered I had six published YA novels and now have two more to add to the list. Because I was busy last year with edits to the two books, I did not have as much time for poetry. I didn’t even have time to enter the CV2-2-Day Poem contest this year. But, as a host of our local literary Open Mic, I am still immersed in poetry and other genres and that often inspires me to jot a line or two. I have been preparing for June 22 by practicing using the prompts and tomorrow will get up in time for the 6am start on the West Coast and with coffee in hand will try a few random prompts so that I will be ‘ready’ for the following week! Looking forward to hanging out in a poetic way with all of you!

Prompt Twelve

This is my last prompt and I got stuck on the word count and couldn’t come up with anything to write. So, I checked the random prompts from previous years and one came up suggesting I use at least five of the eight words listed. They were: piano, ferns, lantern, beech, boots, laughter, jars, clear. My word count fits, as I used ‘maple’ twice. Because the ‘word prompt’ was not included in the original prompt, I relaxed, even though I only managed to use half of the eight words. They inspired me to write my last poem! Thank you for a fun and challenging contest – it was well-organized and set up for success!!! I will be back next year!

Near dusk, they reach their destination –
under a canopy of beech and sugar maple they
lay down their tarp and spread their feast: cheeses,
and salad topped with musk mallow seeds.

Wine-filled glasses perched in hand –
they watch maple syrup seep into hanging jars;
while the singing warbler’s sweet tones ring
through the forest, and night brings a piano of colour.

Black and white shadows of light play along her face –
he curls a waft of her hair through his fingers.
The soft touch of his lips on her cheek, lingers;
each star a lantern, as they make their way home.

As in the Past

Come dance with me,
a ‘swallowtail jig’,
like early settlers to this land.

We worked all day,
tilling summer’s yard,
tonight – let me hold your hand.

Come dance with me,
verdant skirt swishing,
while tapping out this buoyant tune.

We’ve earned our keep –
time to cheer our toil;
tomorrow’s labour comes too soon.

pink

prom corsages
bridesmaid dresses
and baby blankets

tattooed hearts
a rocking musician
and warrior wear

the last caress
the colour of my fear
and my cancer pin