24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Hi, I'm Jana Lapel...and I've been writing poetry since the age of 7...when my mom (a professional copywriter) was my teacher! I was born in Iowa...launched my career in Chicago and ended up in Canada ...enjoying a lifetime as a singer/actor/media host & writer/voice teacher & professional clown. Writing was a bonus in my career...and now in retirement I am writing my stories in a book...but poetry is my passion! Having worked with children for forty years...I am "hooked" on Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein's styles. No matter what I write about ...I cannot resist the RHYME...alliteration...and in my darkest days (after losing my husband and clown partner in 2007) my readers noted that "you still sound like Dr. Seuss"! Poetry writing has been one of my best "medicines" ever! This is my first Marathon....and since I am an insomniac anyway....I have challenged myself to the "full meal deal"! I don't drink coffee...so this will be a 24 hour chocolate binge...ah, chocolate coated words that rhyme....sounds like a Feast to me! :)
ONE is lonely
It’s called “Alone”
Not the most fun
I have ever known
TWO can share life
It was meant to be
a Blessed Time together
for both you and me
THREE is the very BEST
we put ourselves in HIs Hands
for He is our Creator
bringing forth Divine Plans
FOUR Score and Ten…
you did not live to see
But your last sixteen years
you shared and blessed me
FIVE is a mystery
it is yet to unfold
“The Best’s yet to come”
(that is what I am told)
It’s the End of sleep for another night
I hug the covers oh, so tight
My Mother’s annoying wake up call
bounces off my bedroom wall
“Good Morning to you…
Good Morning to you….
Time to get U–UP
you have things to do!”
I love sleeping in
is that such a “sin”?
Just five minutes more?
Then my feet hit the floor
I still remember Mom ‘s wake up call
a singing alarm from down the hall
she left this earth in twenty-eleven
no doubt she’s singing now in heaven
I’m left with memories …good and bad
But I’m awake now…and I’m so glad
getting up early …that’s the first task
to have some fun …that’s all I ask
Since I am not a coffee drinker…but a Chocolate-a-holic…I am armed with a supply for the Marathon. and WATER….my lovely Filtered water system will be full…and will provide the refreshing drink (to wash down the chocolate!) On a “normal” night I rarely sleep more than three hours without waking up….and I am retired…no job to go to….so I THINK this is possible. NOW, about the writing poems …one an hour for 24 hours? I often compose poetry in my so-called sleep at night…but I’m too tired to get up and write them down. I’ve written song lyrics for the two CDs I have produced in the past sixteen years…and some of those lyrics came in the night! I told my facebook friends….”I plan to be composing all night long….and hope I will NOT be DEcomposing!” Yes, I am a silly poet…hooked on Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein and others from my own childhood. I cannot resist rhyming….alliteration…(I’m from Iowa…the Corn State….thus the corny jokes) and all manner of silliness. When I delivered original “singing telegrams” a few years ago…(in costume and as characters like Mae West, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Blanch from Golden Girls…you can tell my age by the gals I portrayed) the rhyming “gift” brought me a part time income. How Fun to make somebody’s day with a surprise performance of their very own original greeting! Ah, this should be FUN….yet totally exhausting! Making plans to sleep most of Sunday …after the final poem is produced at 8 a.m. Mountain time! (9 a.m. ET)