The Poetry Marathon

24 Hour Poetry Marathon Hour 16: Tribute to Wendie Donabie “Somnolent Wake”

Dawn so silent for me
in its magical overture
the first music to my ears
but my mind is often quelled

Late nights and old movies
and the tosses and turns of sleep
preparing me for a catch-up day
doom is often spelled

Those buzzing predators
I hear their complaints
for I offer not to feed them
with my morning’s somnolent wake

But they remind me
of the magic of sunrise
as I learn of the long dark shadows
and earlier walks by the dew drop lake

The light is strange and misty
clearing as the minutes turn
leaving Gothic town of my dreams
where the oldest memories burn

Another day has come
and a lesson I have learned
there enters within me a new encounter
and the love I am now to yearn

#14: W*rk

#14: W*rk

Work. Stressing about work. I don’t want to work. But I have no money without work. Which means I can’t buy anything without work. Growl. I guess I’ll go to work.

Midsummer Soliloquy

Where is the dusk song of the frogs?

They used to be so punctual, heralding the oncoming autumn.

The biting bugs have arrived en masse, but the evenings remain cricket-quiet.

Maybe it’s my own impatience,

but I’ve grown tired of the lonely heat.

(Hour 16)

Hour 16 – Dictionary Entry

Poetry Marathon

Definitions:

verb 

1. to create confidence
2. to whisper creativity
3. to meet and bless a worldwide poetry community
4. to climb expectations

as in We’ve been Poetry Marathoning for 15 hours so far.

noun

1. a chapbook full of admirable achievements
Bring on the Poetry Marathon! 

2. a day of hope in the life of a poet
It’s been a Poetry Marathon day.

3. a gift of love from Caitlin and Jacob
Thank you for that Poetry Marathon.

---

Prompt for Hour Sixteen

 

As Things Change

cw: references to metaphorical body horror

The gentle hands
(as the canary thought of them)
could not be around all the time.
It was sad, but the canary knew
that hands had things beyond
its four walls.
After all: the window
showed a whole world out there.
Still, when the gentle hands were gone,
sometimes cruel hands would come.
They would undo all the bandages,
and make the canary bleed,
trying to get it to sing
by causing it pain.

If the canary bit,
the hands would hurt it worse.
It was tired of having its heart eaten:
and so, it stayed quiet, yearning
for the gentle hands –
the only hands that never
turned on it.
Those same hands
took down the curtains:
now, they could never
block its view of the world outside.

Morning Rush-Hour Sixteen

Step 1: remember your shoes.

Step 2: Pat your pockets.

Step 3: Panic, as the wallet isn’t in that pocket.

Step 4: search the house for the damn wallet.

Step 5: find it in the purse.

Step 6: Look for your glasses.

Step 7: resume panicking.

Step 8:…Remember you can see.

If you make it to work without your wallet or purse, you may have to turn around! Repeat steps until completely ready.

contentment #thepoetrymarathon #prompthour16

Count your blessings carefully.

Think of them, appreciate each.

Marinate them in fresh laughter

(when was the last time you laughed?)

and a few drops of tears

(for sanity and balance.)

Sieve belief carefully

culling all the blind spots

and information derived from media

and loud talking individuals

and add it to the mix.

Add love if available.

Make sure it is fresh,

not stagnant. Look around you,

it’s out there somewhere:

in the eyes of a parent,

in the smile of a child,

in the warmth of your pet?

Take a wok

heat the silence till smoking.

Add rage and wait

till it starts to sputter.

Make a paste of regret

and fears and throw it out.

Saute well, add humour

and the marinated blessings

fry on high heat for two minutes

till the blessing are pliant and kind.

Season with friendship

and garnish with finely chopped

duties and ambition.

Enjoy contentment!

Twos Teacher

Twos Teacher

 

Weebles wobble, toddlers toddle,

what could they possibly do? Open

your eyes, make sure they’re always wide.

You never know what’s in store behind

that big brown classroom door. Blocks

stacked up to the cabinets, puddles

oddly on the carpet, dinosaurs

eating dollies, Ms. Mommy watch

what tall bin I can climb inside!

#13: Sweet Bean

#13: Sweet Bean

Oh, sweet bean

You smell so sweet

Every goo-goo, every ga-ga

Brings a smile to my face

Every moment we embrace

I am reminded to be grateful

You see, sweet bean

I was never expected to be a mother

The doctors told me so

Yet, here you both are

So every snuggle, every cuddle

Melts the frustration of motherhood

It erases the societal pressure of perfection

And reminds me I’m enough

Holding you in my arms

Swaying side to side

Or rocking back and forth

Centres me in the moment

Oh, sweet bean

I’m so lucky to be your mama.

For Beginners

Shuffle ball
Shuffle ball
Ball change
Touch

Heel step
Step heel
Heel step
Three point turn

Single buffalo

With the beat
Ready? Go!