The Poetry Marathon

Have you ever said yes

when you really meant no?

Did you ever agree to take part

when you really didn’t have the time?

Did you want to say no,

but you were too afraid to offend?

Well, being loved by all won’t be your fate.

No one will be concerned about your priorities,

or what you need to do.

The emphasis is on I, me and my

with no concern for you.

What they think and how they feel

is a worthy concern to have..

However, even if you comply

with all expectations,

it may satisfy in the moment;

but may lead to self deprecation

without regard to you.

When the next demand is made.

setting your priorities aside

Your needs settle down to the bottom of the wish list

for burial in an early grave.

No one will cry or even mourn

when your work is left undone.

You’ll blame yourself for saying yes

even when it caused you harm.

Yes is always pleasant

it makes one feel so good,

but sometimes no can mean just as much

when plain reality is understood.

No is not a bad word,

No doesn’t mean I don’t like you;

it doesn’t mean I don’t care.

It simply means I have a life

and my life has to take priority over you.

It always seems to happen

when you think you are prepared

something will go wrong

when everything should go right.

A coffee spill

on your fresh mopped floor;

shattered glass

when you don’t have time to stop and clean.

makes your blood boil even more.

It always seems to happen

nothing goes your way

you think you have it all in control

you are mentally set

and emotionally strong,

but frustrating surprises litter your plate

like stale dried left-overs from yesterday’s meal.

The computer wants to update

right when you need to start;

the doorbell chimes and the phone rings

adding stress to what was supposed to be

a calm and relaxing day.

It always seems to happen

when you don’t have time to play.

anything that could go wrong

decides to happened just to cause delay.

take a deep breath

and calm your mind.

What seems to be an emergency right now

has to take its place in line.

You can only do what you can do,

so don’t sweat the unimportant

it’s just a part of life unexpected.

Getting ready is always a chore.

There are things you want to do,

but where do you begin?

that’s always the question;

the scary place;

the place that hides

in the unconscious and mud soaked regions of your mind.

Getting ready is always nerve racking.

It’s made of

thoughts and dreams

mashed together in a savory stew.

Everything is in there,

but where to begin?

The beginning is the place

that always feels best.

That’s when

you know you’re ready.

Things will only get better and better

as you spend time cultivating the possibilities.

improvement is always

on the next horizon

ready to reveal

her worthiness for the task at hand.

Things will only get better and better

the more you do them

the better things will be.

Don’t wrestle with the should haves

of life because they always stay the same.

Things will get better and better

I know I’ve been told.

Practice always makes perfect,

when you establish a good goal.

There’s no need to doubt or second guess

where

better can be found.

Just look deep inside your soul

where grace and mercy  can be found.

Debra A. K. Thompson

My feet fit my body

They fit just the right way.

they are just the right size.

toes and heel

they make their stand

they don’t have to work

for anyone else, but me.

they are my feet and I’m glad they are mine.

My feet can carry me

where ever I want to go.

On a stroll in the park

down the hall in the mall

across the meadow green.

it doesn’t matter where I want to go.

My feet may complain

but at the end of the day

they are my feet

and I love them just the same.

Debra A. K. Thompson

Cool as a breeze.

Cool as frost bite on your nose and feet.

Cool as a warm spring day hiding from the sun

Cool as something so awesome that makes you grin

because it’s so much fun to be cool.

Life is cool.

Love is cool.

Even rules can be cooL

It’s just cool to be cool.

who ever made the word for cool, had to be cool.

trying to stay cool on a hot summer day

enjoying the cool breeze on a beach far away

it’s just cool to be included with the cool

Making your own way is cool.

I do know one thing about cool,

I’m glad I’m included with the cool.

What will you do if nobody recognizes you?

Will you become offended and ready to give up?

How will you act if your name isn’t called?

The hurt and pain feels so real,

yet, in the scheme of things

it’s not important at all.

What would you do if everything was a lie?

and the reality you know

doesn’t resemble anything you remember?

Would you try to hide your disappointment

or just let it go?

what would you do

if friendships were lost

because of an oversight caused by the realities of life?

Skewing your perspective

While making everything look the same.

when in reality,

it was just an easy way to cast blame.

offenses will come

Of this you can be sure.

if you spend your time being offended

there’s not much point to living

if the harshness of life

you can’t endure.

Just the power to hold on

as you learn to endure.

No matter how you slice it

and no matter how you dice it

when it’s all said and done

what you do with

what you know

may determine

what you will do

As you grow.

Debra A. K. Thompson

Some memories are wonderful

they remind you of what use to be.

memories can transport you to a different time and place

recapturing the glory of days gone by.

Sometimes it’s good for memories to fade

especially those we would prefer to forget.

Hiding in the shadows and the recesses of our minds

spectors of experiences long since forgotten.

Debra A. K. Thompson

Time is passing

can you feel how quickly it moves?

It’s going by so fast

it’s like a whirlwind that never stops

the days are almost running into one another like a train wreck ready to happen.

Time has no favorites

it doesn’t care if you are ready

it makes no exceptions to any rule

time is just time regardless of your name. or social standing

whether you are rich or poor time won’t make an exception.

Time is not a color

Time is not a race

time knows how to abide in just the right place

it doesn’t belong to any special group of people

time reigns in the realm of eternity.

Day or night, time is just time.

Some people waste time.

Some people disregard time.

some people never have enough time

Time can’t be captured in a bottle

time knows no bounds

it exists to be used and abused by those without a clue.

Time is just time.

My daily prayer

a prayer for love

a prayer for joy

a prayer for peace

a prayer for happiness

a prayer for all mankind

a bountiful blessing that will never end.

I pray for my family

I pray for my children

I pray for the children of others

I pray for my neighbors

I pray for my friends

I pray for those that I may never know.

Yet I know they all need my prayers.

I pray for the sick

I pray for the wounded in spirit

I pray for the heart that has been broken

I pray for those without hope

I pray for those who are shattered by grief

unable to face the disappointments that life can bring.

Somehow I know these prayers will bring comfort and peace.

I pray for our government

I pray for war to end

I pray for understanding to increase

I pray for misunderstanding to decrease

I pray for tolerance

a prayer that we will not destroy ourselves

with our own greed, selfishness and narrowness of mind

Yet I know all these things can only come from heaven above.

how marvelous it would be

if we all prayed in real unity.

caring for the needs of our brother

striking the chord of true love for one another.

No more war and no more pain

everybody on the same frequency

the frequency that will lead to world love and harmony.