The Poetry Marathon

Angels on Earth

There are members of our families

Acquired in many ways.

Some stay with us a long, long time

And some for merely days.

2 legs, 4 legs, sometimes 3

Fur and feathers, too

Squawks and barks and whistling sounds

All those kisses just for you.

They’ll walk with you and rest with you

They’re sad when you aren’t there

We scratch their ears and squelch their fears

When storms are in the air

Their bubble baths will make you laugh

That skunk smell not so much

Once they’re out and squeeky clean

They’re oh so soft to touch

So here’s to all our family pets

Loyal from the start

There memories will always hold

A place within our hearts!

The sunflowers seemed to dance as she stared at their beauty through her

tilted wine glass.  She drew in the oak like aromas before taking her last sip.

With her eyes closed, she was taken back to her trip to the vineyards.  She vowed

to return but leaving now was not an option.  She would have to settle for her

memories.  Grabbing her satchel off the nail behind the back door, she headed

towards the garden, her special space.  There she would dream of Italy, the vineyards,

the people and the one she left behind. With the sun warming her face, she pulled

her hardback journal from the satchel and begin to write.  Would this, too, be

her next adventure?

Mannequin or Mannecan’t

Is this what it looks like at the end

When so many of those would’a , could’a, should’a moments

Are left to wither away only to return as something brilliant

Your dream, but with someone else chasing after it with nothing to fear

Something you knew it could be,if you would’a, and you should’a but you didn’t

You didn’t believe in yourself, you let fear guide you to someplace safe

Someplace with no sharp edges to cut you, or cliffs to fall from or water to deep

Someplace old and cold and sad and lonely but safe……….maybe, maybe not

I beg of you,

Understanding Change

Magnificent, isn’t it?

Picturesque; fields combed, each blade in it’s place

Tree plush and tilted at a pleasing angle to the eye of most of the onlookers

Bluest skies embracing the edges of our view, with the most careful placement of each cloud

Colors picked with intent and purpose, pleasing to some, contrived possibly to others

Would you dare venture into this masterpiece

Or would you fear the disturbance would cause change to it’s beauty

But change must come, it’s inevitable they say

Maybe you shy away leaving it to the next brave soul, or being or element from the heavens

A curious child or gentle wind wanting to explore what might be perched in the boughs of the crimson topped tree

A flock of birds darting about those blue skies or a wayward kite hanging in the cloud’s billows before it’s departure

Beyond the landscape searching for another perfect horizon

Trying to find their fishin’ hole, just over that hill, young anglers bound through the perfectly combed blades

Anxious to begin their story, their canvas, not concerned with the intent and purpose of the canvas

Time changes, colors fade, limbs and leaves fall, grasses go dormant and loose their joyful hues

Skies darken with snow or rain or clouded obstructions of the sun………..it’s change, it’s inevitable.

But beauty never dies, it circles back, eager to please those who return and those just beginning their adventures

Miles to go before I sleep*

(a poem for dad, oh how we miss you!)

It’s hard to write about you Dad

So much to say yet the words won’t come

Your chair sits empty but still I look

Maybe to catch a glimpse of you

Your smile, devilish at times, your laugh, your grumbles, too

And your sweet, sweet humming, always humming

I miss these parts of you, I miss them, I miss you, we miss you, every bit of you

Days are different, routines changed, less worry at night

So why do I long to hear your voice on that monitor

Just one more time, even if it was you grumbling as you made

yet another trip to the bathroom.

Trips to see Doc Weller, “a very fine feller” as you would proclaim

Followed by your trademarked “Oh shitsky!”  I MISS THAT

There’s no more worry, will you fall, will I find you in your chair

Unresponsive, leaving us to morn, no more worry, no more you

Why would I wish for those times of worry about you

Your 7:00 bed time, yet “miles to go before I sleep”*

Wishing you were still a  part of our routine, hard times and the good ones

It’s mom I hear now on that monitor, no “Oh Shitskies” just the

seemingly endless all-nighter with Steve Harvey and Family Feud

I know you are laughing that boyish laugh right now…….the momma

She’s ok, just missing you, we all miss you, ALL OF YOU

We can’t have you back, just our thoughts and memories

I’ll let those fill my heart and soul

Even if it means it’s “miles to go before I sleep”*

Time for cleansing my body, my mind and soul

Water falls as the temperature rises to a point just beyond perfect

Clothes tossed, curtain pulled, big steps in, over the edge safely

Pleasureful sting of the pulsing waters, my ritual begins

Hair first, follicles opening to a sea of scented suds and massaging finger tips

Inhaling the green tea and mint, my mind awakens from it’s morning fog

Thoughts rush to be the first one of my pondering, which will capture my attention

Arms and pits, chest and trunk, legs and naughty bits as the Monty Python boys call them

Hair rinsed then a careful turn back to the flowing stream, less sting more soothing now

What waits for me in the world outside of this flimsy dollar store shower curtain liner

Contemplating challenges, I pray for a peaceful day and sometimes more

Otherwise as I ready myself for departing this cleansing chamber, I search for them

Three men in my tub, always there, their faces found amongst the folds and creases of that cheap liner

Grouchy looking lot, what do they want of me, did I miss a spot, did I carelessly splash soap in their eyes

Who knows!  Maybe they just want me to clean the tub

Maybe I’ll ask them tomorrow

Hi Everyone:  I am Marci and I am the Mayor of a small village in central Ohio.  I am excited to get started and hope this year, my third year, I can hang for the full 24!!

Are there any other Mayors out there?  Sure would love chatting you up after the marathon is over.

Goodluck everyone and I look forward to seeing you and reading your works tomorrow!!

Hour 17 (Marathon Prompt – write about an obsolete or soon to be obsolete form of technology)

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

Ink on paper soon could be

Obsolete technology

Daily news in paper form

May soon no longer be the norm

On a screen you’ll need to look

When you long to read a book

Cards and letters won’t come by mail

Best hope your internet won’t fail

Hour 16  (Marathon Prompt – write a poem about love without using the word love)

FOR JOHN

He trusts me, even when he fears for my well being

He compliments me, even when the dinner ends up in the trash or the new hair cut is just a little “iffy”

He helps me, even when he knows I should do it on my own and it means more work for him

He supports me when life gets in the way

He challenges me, knowing it might make me mad, but he knows I need that challenge

He gets me, even when he doesn’t fully understand and I would guess that is quite often

He is there for me in every way imaginable…..every hour, every day without fail, forever.  How could someone care so much, so deeply?

My hope is that he feels the same about me.

Hour 15 (a prompt from Write The Story book.  Mash up two classic fairy tales.  I’m starting to get a little punchy)

HANSEL AND GRETEL MEET LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

She headed out with her basket of goodies and treats

Some things for her dear sick grandmother to eat.

She hummed and she skipped down the path through the wood

Her basket in hand, wearing her bright red capped hood

Up ahead were two kids looking lost and alone

She felt she could help them, try to find their way home

Hansel & Gretel soon learned that Red’s basket was filled

Enough food for them all, they were happy, they were thrilled

Being lost made them hungry, would Red Riding Hood share

They could dine at her grandma’s, they were almost there

She agreed to oblige them upon their arrival

For she knew that nutrition is a key to survival

They hustled along til they spotted some trouble

An old witch and a wolf were crouched down in some rubble

They both started drooling, with lunch on their mind

The threesome could tell they might be in a bind

Whispering to one another, they figured a way

To reach Red’s dear grandmas without much delay

Up ahead was a house made of candy and sweets

Made to entice those three youngsters to stop in and eat

They knew it was part of the witches attack

To lure them in with her plentiful snacks

They’d end up as dinner for the evil old witch

Now was the time to feed her their pitch

They called out to the witch and they convincingly lied

About wanting to rest could they please come inside

The witch and the wolf yelled back, please be our guests

Come in and sit down and let us do the rest

The witch and the wolf ran ahead with delight

Never dreaming the threesome were ready to fight

The kettle on the fire was already a boil

Hansel very quietly reached for his foil

Gretel managed to pick up a hand full of sand

They watched for the signal from Red Riding Hood’s hand

They backed up the witch and the wolf with the foil

Blew the sand in their face and they fell in the boil

The deed had been done, they were free from that fate

They could head on to grandmas, before it got late

Red Riding Hood made Hansel and Gretel a vow

That she’d get them home some way, some how

Grandmas house soon was filled with good food and much laughter

And you know the rest……they lived happily after.