The Poetry Marathon

drowning with a view

drowning in a city is

easy, smog covers

the scene, you

can choke

as loudly as you

want to and your

next door neighbor

will have the decency

to look surprised

when the ambulance

arrives; he does not

know you, nor you

him and that’s the

problem, or maybe

the solution to

everything

drowning in a city

is easy, stay outside

in the rain for too long

and people will assume

you plan to melt

into the sidewalk

stop breathing for

a minute

and everyone will think

your lips are blue from

the cold, look out

at the skyline and

smile because who wouldn’t

want to go with a good

view, there is always happiness

in the small things in

the city but they just

get overshadowed by the

big things so easily

there areso many big things

all around

you drown quietly

while you admire the

skyline, shadowed figure

floating in the pool

that is the feeling of

being forgettable, of being

a mere speck for those

living in the tallest building

drowning in the city is easy

and not uncommon, that’s why

no one will try to stop you here

no one will look at you

and see anything out of the ordinary

if they see you, at all.

Word Story (prompt 11 7pm)

The smell of sourdough bread baking wafted through the air.

The bakery storefront display had cakes and pastries there.

The sign in the window advertised fresh jams and almond butter spread.

The forest ranger lost his resolve and into the bakery he did head.

Pausing for some coffee and a fresh cheese Danish that hit the spot.

He tapped his foot to the beat, glad to drink until the last drop.

 

---

sourdough

storefront

spread

forest ranger

beat

MERCY

Allow pen to scratch along paper

Let pigment flow here

Without fear 

 

Allow creativity to spill out

Let it sweep you along the unexpected routes

Without doubt

 

Be gentle with the tender blooms of story

Hold gently the threads of narrative

Over which your imagination has power

 

Be merciful to the new ideas

And hold kindly to those which have long lingered

Awaiting their hour

And your attention

10 – Cliche Holidays

“Christmas is my favorite holiday,” I say

As everyone rolls their eyes

And I understand it’s so cliche

But try as I might I just can’t deny

I love the magic, color playing with light

Childlike wonder all around

And the crisp in the air brings me such joy

The pure delight of giving (and receiving’s good too)

But mostly being together with those I hold dear

As the end of another chapter draws near

And I understand the holidays are hard

Get moreso every year

For there are empty seats at the table

Those we have lost, ones who’ve moved on

But not from our hearts

And so we do ache and long for

Their company at this time

That doesn’t stop me from enjoying

The jingles that make the air bright

And the ho ho ho and the mistletoe

Swept up in the merriment, a toast to the yule

The last celebration before we start a year new

Monoku

Dry dirt road-air filter needs changed.

EFFECT

Why must be a cause to affect 

Yet a cause leads to an effect

How is this effective

English what sort of pretention are you affecting

Hour 7: My Normal

Time passed by
The old times were more fun
The old times that I sometimes rant for
My old Normal

Normal is gone now
Normal is different now
Normal is uncertain now

Is the earth healing?
Human took normal for granted

Am I too selfish?
I want my old normal back
Without mask
Free to travel

But, my normal never comes back
My old normal will only be my memories

I am adjusting, i am adjusting
New normal seems scary
Perhaps, the earth has suffered so much
So, she rests now, and we suffer

If my old normal is back, will I nurture the earth better?
Will you?

Hour 11_Trees…

Trees
as skyscrapers
in your city of the timberlands.
Cheat your beat, Forest Ranger!
Periwinkle skies
spread wide before you –
Look heavenward!

Association Generator

words
the shape of the line, the position of the tongue
the placement in time, the corresponding thought

 

sleep separate
property reduce
mess position
resist transparent
kneel silk
exclude log
injection transaction
freshman squash
satellite concert
cave fraction
steep spring
die loop
reckless relaxation
swipe bacon
peace owe
analysis shoot
some are
random some
are not
insert excuse
metal lighter
beam fit
print linger
reduction mile
cluster offender
dominate mold
strategic employ
package
freedom

Take Off

 

I want to spread my winds

Take you with me to the clouds,

Wash my gumboots as we walk into a stream of undying love.

There’s a beat playing in my head –

Sound of hurrays and balloons coming to life by the swift touch of a needle.