The Poetry Marathon

Are you even listening? She barked at me

I smiled and watched her continue to talk

at me

No, I wasn’t paying attention

I was too busy memorizing the lines on your face

the color of your lips at 12:07pm

the way your hair curls

the way your laugh sounds as the sun fades over the horizon

“You never listen, I swear!”

She threw her hands in the air and stomped off

I’ll never forget the night

the night I begged you to stay

the night I tried to convince you that we were worth staying for

that we were better than any drug you could consume

I laid myself down on the floor, on my knees

at your mercy and pleaded with you to be with us

That night in February you looked in my eyes

No

you said, in flattest tone

getting up you walked out and you left me,

you left us

and my shattered heart all over the floor

I am a Word Warrior

I beat on my chest and sound my barbaric yawp over the rooftops of the world

Walt would be proud

with the way I wield my pen that is mightier than any sword

That I carry in my arsenal

armed with a feverish passion

I slice through white paper

like Zoro,

I leave my mark

dripping in ink

embedded with the truth

I want everyone to read me

and be weary

I am a Word Warrior

With a single smile,

you have the ability to make my 11oz heart

lose control

blood pumping,

increased palpations,

eyes rolling back into my head

pulse rising

body temperature climaxing

to point where I forget how many beats per second my 11oz heart is going

Dear Charles Bukowski,

You are my favorite drunk, poetic bastard

You gambled with women

and I heard your breath reeked of cigarettes and whiskey

I am writing to you, you see Mr. Bukowski

I used to write poetry to get into girls pants

I settled down and got married and haven’t written an honest poem since

So I write, for you, asking for you help.

send me some crude whiskey soaked words

Send some panty dropping inspiration

send me something to get me through the hours

I need you more than ever Hank

Your biggest fan

ASM

I remember the cold dreary day in the begging of December when I was told you were gone. You left us. On your own accord. Just like that. you. were. gone.

You left us. On your own accord. Just like that.

On your own accord. Just like that.

Just like that.

you. were. gone.

I didnt think it was true, I didnt want to beleive it, I refused to. the news knocked the wind out of me

the news knocked the wind out of me

I remember every detail of that day

the ice that fell made the pipes freeze and I couldnt wash my scrubs

I needed to wash my scrubs, I needed to wash something, to occupy myself

to do something

other than to think about you being gone

I sat on the couch and watched the TV about Berts Bees

I know the TV was talking but all I could hear was our last conversation

and how you were doing better

just days before

you were okay

and now

now you were gone

and all I could do was sit and watch the ice fall from the sky

On that perfect drive in your silver Jeep

We rode to the Lake

With the pink Moon

Lighting our way

Glory beat from our chests

As I awaited to be laying under the Canopy of stars

with my head adhered to your Breastbone

I had a dream about you

last night

and we were exactly how we should have been before

the cheating

the lies

the ache

the mess

I was told if I was going to cheat, I should carry the burden with me, instead of being honest and making you feel

less than

unwanted

not enough

I should have taken that advice

we might still be the way we were last night

when I met you in my sleep

You set me Free

through your thick black ink

pouring through your golden tip

We have seen the world together, you and I,

Through 26 letters

You have never let me down

or high or run dry

I plan to keep you locked

in between my fingers

like a lovers hand

on a rainy day

High above the city

With my face pressed against the glass

I watched the lights dance

with the people,

looking like rhythmical black specs

jockeying for position

on the gray pavement blew