Raven – Page 4 – The Poetry Marathon

6

Note: I read on the link provided that micro-haibuns limit the prose section to 20-180 words. I wrote what I thought was enough for the poem and it’s exactly 20, so I guess it’s enough! And forgive the formatting, I think it looks better this way.

Splash. The water’s involuntary separation,
when penetrated by the fingers, the hands, the whole body.
Giving in, encircling the intruder.

a stroke on water
the timer ticking away
three metals glitter

5

All hail the almighty like !
Hold on to it for your dear life.

No, really, be vigilant and watch your friends –
who likes, who doesn’t, who pretends.

A like can save you from tsunami,
can gain you sales on origami,
can save a girl in starving country
but will it fill your empty pantry?

A lack of likes can kill your day,
hang like a shadow in your sunny May,
and make a girl, who isn’t liked,
commit an early suicide.

All hail the almighty like !
Hold on to it for your dear life.

For if you don’t, then your friends may
Find someone else, who likes this way.

4

Note: I followed the prompt and decided to post all three stages, because there’s just too much love in every word I wrote. It’s very close to me.

Step 1

Once upon a time a little kitty was noticed by a human
while crawling to reach the end of its play pen
across her brothers and sisters, relentlessly.
The human left, without the kitty knowing it was there.
The kitty grew, and the human came again. The kitty felt
that it was her human, her eyes were asking where it’s been.
The human put a ribbon on the kitty, and left again.
And kitty worried, but he knew. The human must be back!
More humans came, put ribbons on her siblings, left again.
But when the kitty was a few months old, her human came, and took her home.

Step 2

Once upon a time a little kitty was noticed by a human
while crawling to reach the end of its play pen
across her brothers and sisters, relentlessly.
The human loved her style,
such strength and such determination.
It felt that they were kindred souls.
The human left, without the kitty knowing it was there.
She reached the edge, the goal complete.
She fell asleep, as kitties do so often at that age.
The kitty grew, and the human came again. The kitty felt
that was her human, her eyes were asking where it’s been.
Her siblings paid no mind, just stumbling all around
the play pen or the litter box. But kitty sat alert,
maintaining gaze on her human-to-be (she was sure).
The human put a ribbon on the kitty, and left again.
And kitty worried, but he knew. The human must be back!
She’s marked, she’s his. The little string around her neck.
So thin and pink, left there by her human.
More humans came, put ribbons on her siblings, left again.
The days went by, both fast and slow, but when the kitty was
a few months old, her human came, and took her home.

Step 3

Once upon a time a little kitty was noticed by a human
while crawling to reach the end of its play pen.
The human loved her style,
such strength and such determination.
The human left, without the kitty knowing it was there.
The kitty grew, and the human came again. The kitty felt
that was her human, her eyes were asking where it’s been.
Her siblings paid no mind, just stumbling all around
the play pen or the litter box. But kitty sat alert.
The human put a ribbon on the kitty, and left again.
She’s marked, she’s his. The little string around her neck.
The days went by, both fast and slow, but when the kitty was
a few months old, her human came, and took her home.

3 – Before Darkness

A lifetime of thoughts happens
In the minutes, sometimes hours
Before I close my eyes

The worlds that never were,
But might be – if I write them down
The morning after, or even now
If I reach for the notebook by the bed

The things I never said,
And never will, the responses
To things both happened and wished,
Or dreaded, but always imagined.
The scripts we prepare for,
That never play out

But the wildest of thoughts
The best of ideas
Will never be written,
Will not be remembered
As they pass in those final moments
Just before drifting away
Before the blackout of sleep

2 – Not an Olympian

A friend once told me
I am a woman of many hats
And while I don’t like hats
I did once wear the swimming cap
On and off for a few years

I held the table tennis racket
Black always on the outside
Red on the inside
And swung it swiftly
For not nearly long enough

I held all kinds of rackets
And threw around all kinds of balls
But in the end, my best sport is
Lifting the pen to paper

1

I want to watch it
with you

The flames in the sky
the fiery sun –
exploding

or

The waves crashing
the liquid ice
overtaking
what’s left of their world

or

The earth shaking
cracked open
ready to swallow
their world

I want to watch it
with you

Their world ending.
Their world.

It was never ours

Here, back again

I can’t believe it’s time for the 2016 marathon already. And at the same time, I can’t wait for it to start. Last year has provided me with a much needed and much missed sense of deadline urgency, as I was having withdrawal after graduation.

This year I’ve only signed up for half the marathon, because I’m a hardcore basketball fan and intend to watch all of the Olympic games. Must have some sleep between those, too! So don’t be surprised if some of my poems come out basketball-themed. I will do my best to produce more than 12, though, I just didn’t want to sign up for more than I know I can manage.

That being said, last year sparked some great ideas and resulted in some really good poems that I loved (and I’m my own worst critic!). I really wouldn’t mind the marathon happening at least twice a year.