The Poetry Marathon

Light and lively, it’s a hop, skip and jump

into the day, bomp, bomp, bomp. 

In this new world you must smile, smile, smile

and not cry, cry, cry at what you don’t want to come

to pass. Grizzled old men have made decisions and

changed your life for you. You have no say.

Lilt and lift you must be happy 

through your tears. Bomp, bomp, bomp

how many of us will now tumble down the stairs?

Charcoal clouds overcame the sun that June morning

and swept over the land covering, smothering hope.  

The heavens wept and the angels cried for the unwanted, 

who would now be born to live lonely lives.  The sun, 

exhausted, slipped away and the moon filled the sky.

It was the darkest evening of the year.

The darkest evening of the year.

from Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening  by Robert Frost

by  Karen B Call

Brush grew up around the sculpture that was taller than any man, 

blocking the view of it from far away. Maybe that was the Master’s plan.

Critters dashed about, fighting for spots,

but some worked together. As if the vibrations from the 

sculpture calmed their stress, relaxed them.

Why didn’t it work with people? He stood and watched Paz meander

up the hill just like he did every twilight. 

Snow didn’t stay on it. Funny, he thought. He wanted to see

the lavender light from the beams through

light snow, but it didn’t happen. Maybe if I were here the moment

the snow fell I could see.  He turned the spotlight on, red, to alert them.

He turned and from his spot at the top of the hill he saw figures

moving toward the barn. The doctor and her nurse were there tonight 

to bring life to those who did not want the babies nestled in their bellies.

Good morning! I’m sitting at home with the window open listening to the roar of lawn mowers, chirping of birds and the whoosh of cars down the street. And then the moments of silence. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a poem or two in those sounds and silence.

I’m looking forward to participating again this year. I found Poetry Marathon a few years ago and have managed to complete the Half Marathon. It’s not easy and even doing 12 drafts, for that’s all they really are, is quite a challenge.

See you tomorrow!

Hour 12 Prompt 12

The Trees

Trees in front of our house died last year.

Dead leaves meant sadness on the block.

Birds shunned our trees all summer.

We watered them in vain.

We fertilized them, 

too, with, rich, foul

smelling feed

but no

good.

Prompt 11 Hour 11

The Gumboots

Looking out the skyscraper window I could see

that the sky was periwinkle blue today. A cloud

drifted by, wispier and wispier. It spread itself over 

that patch of sky. Workman plodded up and down

the stairs as they worked over the storefront but 

I sat quietly waiting for their gumboots to leave

the building in silence as the new storefront featuring

needles and sourdough bread slid into place

Hour 10  Prompt 10

Epiphany

Epiphany is one of the big three Christian holidays. 

It was a big reveal to us. It was then we Christians 

first knew, really knew that Jesus was both human 

and the Son of God, though some believe him to be 

the Sun of God. Christmas and Easter are the other 

two major Christian holidays of the big three. Epiphany, 

in the church in which I grew up we had a bonfire, 

burning those Christmas trees and we all stopped

at Arby’s for French dip sandwiches. Epiphany 

and its Revelations.

Hour 9 Prompt 9

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine

Stitches. You know, those things that happen

when you thread a needle and then draw it 

through some fabric. If you have a tiny hole, 

mend it fast. If the button is about to fall off, 

add a few stitches to keep it on. If a seam has

lost a stitch or three, just go over the stitching.

But we don’t do that any more. If the button 

falls off or if the seam rips, just toss it away or

maybe put it in the  Goodwill box. A stitch in

time might save nine, but very few will find 

that out any more or even understand what it means.

Hour 8 Prompt 8

The Older Sibling

As the older sibling I felt responsible for my younger brother.

My mother didn’t tell me I was responsible, but as we walked 

to school every day, just the two of us, I was responsible. Then

my brother got hurt and I was responsible and we didn’t get to

go on our regular family vacation because my mother had to work

extra because my brother needed care. We went to meet my 

grandparents who I hadn’t met before. My mother left us with 

them and I felt more responsible for my brother. If you have a

choice, don’t be the older sibling. Be the younger one. Even if

you have to listen to the older one boss you around. It’s just easier.