The Poetry Marathon

Pewter
Ebony
Red
Indigo
White
Imperial
Navy
Khaki
Lavender
Ecru

Sillky
Productions.
Interesting
Designs
Entwining
Radiating
Shadows

So, play the water of the tranquil moon ~ Pablo Neruda (#8 the golden shovel)

I wasn’t sure what I had done so
trying to be more supportive, I attended your play
How I debated before taking action. The hardest part of the
Exercise was knowing I wanted your approval … like a human needs water

i remember our time together and think of
all the great (and not so great) memories and the
fact that I was so self-absorbed I didn’t appreciate it then. Tranquil
now I resolve to set aside my bad habits and howl at the Moon

My teensy heart was begging for attention, for a way out of this pain.
What could I say to change your mind?
Why was this happening to me?
Stepping out of victimhood was not easy. I lacked experience in how to handle this.
My brain was sadly small.

i love you so much
yet you brutalize me.
Continually.

I bury myself in your hair
And still you don’t return my affection.
You don’t even acknowledge I am there.
I feel even smaller. And powerless.

To prolong our joy and leave a legacy, I lay eggs and
find human hands carrying me off to go on a scary voyage
down a torrent of water
to my torturous death.

“I miss you, Fido!“ I scream. “I will always love you.”
You don’t answer. Did you hear my cries?

So, I make a choice and dive into the waterfall seeking solace.
Oddly, drowning one’s pain seemed to awaken the fire within.

What a shock. I was feeling pretty cute
Until I tried on last year’s bathing suit
So painful. Where can I go hide?
“I’m feeling sick,” I said. (I lied.)

seeking perfection
making sacrifices (avoiding food and boys)
but i was a soloist … we toured
We made it look easy
Hiding our bloody feet and calloused souls

the dance studio was my home
Prepping to enjoy my time on stage

years later,
only a twinge of self-criticism when attending the ballet
yet i still get complimented on my legs

If only you had let me know
Maybe I could have helped
Things would be different
But you would still be here

If only you had let me know
I would have dropped everything
I still love you
And miss you with an intensity that scares me

If only I had listened more
Maybe I could have helped
Where was everyone else?
What was the final straw?

If only you had asked me
We would have found a cure
Things would be different
Your kids would have their father

If only I had known
I would take back those words I said
We might not be together
But you would still be here

Looking at the sign
I pondered

It was a lady/tiger decision
One that could not be changed

Would I choose eternity?
With all the world’s problems, I don’t think so…
But I don’t want to leave the planet just yet, either.

Several people with walkie talkies scurried past me and took the sign away
Time to strike set.

i swallowed the longing
pushing it so far down
i forgot it was there

like i had done so many times before
i stopped counting
until today

this time, i started to weep
wondering what if i had followed that urge?
shattered possibilities twerked in my brain

happiness is overrated, i thought
as i crawled back into my rut

Fire boasted he was so powerful to anyone who would listen
when Wind came along, briefly fueling his ego
yet secretly longing to head in a different direction…

Earth threw himself on the political pair
Killing fire’s force and stomping wind’s whimsy

Water entered the fray,
washing away all hopes of fire’s dreams, wind’s ambition and earth’s strength

Think of the possibilities…
if these four would learn to function as friends instead?