The Poetry Marathon

I am sorry that I let you go.
I was young and didn’t know.
That the way you loved was free and rare.
I loved you back but couldn’t dare
to face the scorn and ridicule
the kids at school can be so cruel.

And we were both just kids ourselves,
still figuring out our lives.

Now my life is blank with loss
I wonder what this denial cost me.
I wonder if there’s any chance
that we could try once more with our romance.

Or if you’ve found your heart’s content
instead of living in regret.

Whichever way, I hope you know
I did love you deeply.
I just couldn’t show you.

A hardback copy
of the book we wrote
stares at me from the oak bookshelf
I salvaged from the dumpster fire.

the sunflower next to it taunts me
with its false cheer
that belies a secret darkness.

Still I approach,
wineglass in one hand,
the other with busy fingers knitting
anticipation for the next chapter.

I felt it when I met you.
I’ve known you for a hundred years.
With any luck or grace,
I’ll know you for a hundred more.

Whatever time and space are,
I’m just glad I found you here.
Timeless is our treasure.
And timing is everything.

The Tree of Life is ablaze tonight.
A hot rage has been ignited
Women’s rights are being stripped away
by a system so wrong sighted

In the name of God and “unborn children,”
they are stripping women of their choices.
but this is clearly a hostile power grab
to try and silence women’s voices.

And we will not go silently,
nor accept this as our fate.
We won’t be reduced to chattel
nor be consumed by hate.

We will awaken our inner warriors
to combat the powers that be.
As the birthplace of all people,
we must fight to keep wombs free.

We must fight with all our power
that we can burn down this tree.

– after Robert Frost

A downpour washes over me
announcing change.
I tilt my face up
to the pelting rain
opening my mouth
to receive its wisdom.

Washed-off sorrows form
as puddles at my feet.

In them I see a reflection
of the full moon rising
and I turn toward home,

splashing gently as I go.

Wherever you are
Is where I’m most at home.
In your embrace I feel loved
And in your presence I’m known.
You can’t take a fish out of water
And expect it to live.
And I would feel so home-less
without the love that you give.

They light up the sky
as if bright flickering stars
-obliviously.

My faithful friend
My second set of eyes
You serve as my memory
A buffer when one is needed
The historian of the family
You keep and tell stories.
I honor you.
Stay close by
You never know when
I might need you.

Moonlit walk
no one in sight
I seem to have lost
my fear of heights
Wish you were here.