The Poetry Marathon

She awakes in a fog

and though she tries

each time

in vain

her dreams wander off

leaving her alone

with wobbly thoughts

and daunting realizations

in this quicksand of shifting states

She seeks magic

a blackened brew

hazel nut and vanilla or a mocha perhaps

already she smiles though it hasn’t touched her tongue

already the magic has begun

looking in but you’ve closed the door

memories of how it used to be hang above like darkened clouds

I have no choice but

to step back

and wait it out

Is this how it’s now going to be?

I fix my mask and stifle a cough

I sanitize my hands before

fingers can even think to brush away a tear

Is this how it’s now going to be?

swarms of soulless eyes silently crying inside

the language of touch forsaken

gathering as one… a sin

how I long to greet you

but is this how it’s now going to be?

I should have held on tighter to yesterday

but didn’t see this coming

didn’t see the door closing on what we once had

some say we’ve found a way to get back

but will it ever be the same?

will it ever be normal? at least the memory of what it was?

Perfection it was not

but just to touch and laugh and hold and shed these masks to reveal your smile

indeed that would be just enough

Another new day was about to begin

without an alarm

the sun flung it’s arms wide

shattering through the bleakness of tempered sleep

the birds took cue

and spit out a tune

and that was indeed the end of sweet bliss

except for his cologne lingering on my skin

was he here

except for the crooked smile dancing on my lips

was he really here

except for the moistness there

perhaps we both were here

except for the sheets all crumpled and heaped

was he really here

except for the memory

was he really here

love me like music

sing to my fears

play me like a sitar

twirl me on the floor

bring my emotions to the shore

hold me

always

hold me

The rain drips

the rain falls

raindrops splash on the concrete floor

the rain drips

the rain falls

raindrops lash the green Monstera leaves

the rain drips

the rain falls

raindrops suddenly are no more

no drips

no falls

no drops

but still the thunder roars

lean into the light

as the sun kisses the earth

caste off shadows of last night

it’s all right if the tips of your wings smolder

as you find out who you are

no need for a revolution

just a quiet evolution

as you step into your rebirth

distant

floating high and away

never having said good-bye

into the blue

always blue

is it you?

or is it me?

floating away

not saying good-bye

you seem smaller

more distant than before

yet I still see you

until I see no more

feel you nevermore

wind caressing all that was sore

the veil of you

now the soft layering of dust at my naked feet

footprints lingering as I look back

into the distance

into the miles of a memory

that has soaked up its last tear

looking back at footprints

there nevermore.

light like a feather

buoyant as a bubble shimmering like a pearl beneath the sea

the depth of emotions surreal

my body contorts to the currents

so pliable so simple

no effort, no resistance

where did the pull and push go?

I look beyond and do not yearn

contentment, finally…

finally I am content with self

broken and torn

I needed a mantra to put me back together again

… And this too shall pass…

became my spell

tattooed across my healing heart

least I forget

…And this too shall pass…

needles, ink, tiny droplets of blood

but nothing compared to the pain within

I needed a mantra to put me back together again

least I forget

…And this too shall pass…