The blue pebbles along the trail remind me of you
Our happiness
Our calm
Our never ending embrace to connect us to each other
Jana O'Dell
Jana O'Dell
Jana O’Dell is an author and poet from West Virginia. She has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses and uses writing to cope with daily struggles. Jana lives with her wife, their three children, and a host of fur babies. Jana O’Dell's independently published books that are all available on Amazon include: Cyanide Kisses: The works of a manic, bipolar, dissociative mind.--- My Secrets are in the Stardust--- Magic in the Madness. Published works she can be found in: Poetry Marathon Anthology 2019 and 2020. Upon Arrival Solitude. Best Poets of 2019 Vol 3.
Hour 7: Prompt 7: Older
I hope when we become older, we still share the same love as we do now.
So many trials and events have occurred throughout our time
Yet they did nothing but bring us closer
In my arms is where I hope you always remain
Hour 6: Prompt 6: Happiness
Happiness is simple
Something as easy as a birthday party could bring a years worth of joy in the matter of one day
Hour 5: Prompt 5: Lost in thought
The hardback chair feels like nails left upon the pavement
My wine glass sits perfectly on the table next to me as I stare into space
Wishing my life were full of more sunflowers and less rotten oaks
My satchel holds the knitting feeling I get when I gently pick up the debris left from the storm
Tomorrow will be better I always hope
Never knowing if my words will ever hold true
Hour 4: Prompt 4: Longing for a better world
100 years ago, I never would have thought that we would be exactly where we started
Dreams of new Beginnings were something I held onto for so long
Now I just look back and wonder how did we get this way
How did we fail so effortlessly as a species to never figure out that we needed BETTER
A better life for ourselves
A better life for our children
A better way to handle what the universe throws at us, without taking 100 steps back into time.
Hour 3: Prompt 3: Shadow of my former self
The field looks nothing like I use to remember;
Lushous greenery creating pillows for your feet
Flowers that seemed to span for miles just hoping to make you feel whole again
Butterflies fluttering all about as if they were trying to send a message of what was about to come
Now…
Redness.
All I see is red.
Blood.
Murder.
Death of the person I use to be.
No longer the fun, bright soul that i had always hoped to remain.
Just a cold breeze sweeping through the darkness of red that I now call my soul.
Hour 2: Post 2: Grass is Greener
The grass is always greener on the other side, so I always get told.
Yet my opinion is that the grass is only green on the side it’s being cared for.
Sure, your side may be more beautiful, but it’s fake.
Spray painted and plastic- just like the life you try to push off as your own.
I would rather tend to my own dying grass than ever spend one second making it resemble yours.
Hour 1: Prompt 1: Drowning
The water feels cold
Like the blood that coarses through my veins
Or so that’s what they tell me
That’s how I seem to come off
Never understanding why
Do they think it’s possible to adjust my temperature
Do they think it gets warmer with more bullshit added
I’m not a bath.
I don’t exist for your comfort.
I don’t need cute scented little bath bombs to make me whole.
I am the bomb.
And those who keep testing the waters will succeed in nothing but their own drowning.
Intro
My name is Jana. I’m 34 years old and live in West Virginia. I’m married with 3 human kids and 8 fur kids. I have been writing poetry for years but didn’t publish anything until 2020. This is my 3rd or 4th year participating in the half marathon.
Prompt 12: Hour 12: Winter
The ice forms so effortlessly here
bringing winter into the view
seasons changing with each day
helping shape tomorrow
never backing down
staying so true
magical
honest
free.