The Poetry Marathon

To Do List

Get out of bed

brush that head

drink some coffee

throw out the doubts and why mes

prepare for the day

don’t forget that you slay

Eat something more than once

best if you eat dinner, breakfast and lunch

keep away any and all doubts

throw those nasty things right out

don’t forget to hydrate

you have too much on your plate

portion it out a piece at a time

until you can handle the whole design

I will not deny,
that in this world,
the true pleasure
is the one that has
to do with burning
with another being.

In the flames of desire,
I am a slave to that fire,
one attempt is not enough for me.
my skin requires
more serum and that substance
from kisses together
with the humidity of your body.

I am no longer looking for heaven,
I gave myself to the
flames of desire
and there I burn in sweat
and breath of fire.

I cannot contain
the thirst I carry
inside me, so I just
little by little give in.

I’ve landed in Seattle and will reach work soon.

Remember to:
Eat the food the cook made yesterday that’s in the fridge.
Take a look at the rest of the fridge for fresh fruit before you reach for any other snacks.
Put your plates in the dishwasher right after eating, so you don’t forget.
Bring the trash cans in after noon.

And also,
take frequent breaks from your work so you can focus on the things that give you the most joy,
your hobbies, your walks, your friends.
Smell the herb patch in the backyard when you water the plants.
Call me after you’re done with work for the day.

And most importantly, not miss me too much.
I’ll be back before you know it.
And as you know, I’m always with you in spirit.
I love you so much.
My baebee.

Oh, before I forget, do remember to pick me up from the airport on Thursday. Thanks!

Clockwork Springs

A mechanical heart, wound tightly in its box.

Twisting, spinning, grinding in place to the tune of the jaunty music box.

Each click of the gear, each turn of the cog, all leading to the inevitable,

A beat, a rhythm, a metallic plink of comb on drum, over and over.

An echo for the beating heart’s love locked away within the machine.

Listen to the beautiful song and know it plays only for you.

A quick note

to remind you to

make the bed

so I can

come back at

dawn and have

something to

climb into.

Hour 15

I want you to suffer

When I’m in pain

That way I don’t have to

Deal with my own shame

I would rather just find

Someone else to blame

I am never at fault

I am never wrong

You were the problem

All along

I am noble

For being so forgiving

Even though I just don’t like dealing

With the difficult aspects of my behaviour

Rather take it out on my next-door neighbour

Everybody likes me

So I am above reproach

Act innocently

That’s my approach

To gain as many people on my side

I claim to carry moral authority

While I revel at others’ stupidity

I am the tortured genius

God’s gift to humanity

I make you sad

To feel powerful

I distance myself

From those inconvenient to me

I wallow in my self-hate

While I see myself above all the rest

I’m pretty sure I’m a villain

Today I was at lunch with a physicist I know.

His eyes lit with a golden glow,

his cheeks flushed as he said with relish,

“We don’t know what dark matter is,

but dark matter is everywhere, and is responsible

for all of us being here.”

He was proud to educate me, to be part of

something so new, so vast and grand.

Experiencing his words and the emotion

behind them took me back to another

place 40 years before, where I was the one

with the shining eyes. I sat rapt

in a meditation led by a guru I had never seen before

and knew nothing about. He said earnestly,

“Everything comes from love.

Love is in all things and gives form to creation.”

His whole being seemed to glow, and I felt

understanding grow in me..

Hello, Where did you go? the physicist asked.

I told him my memory, and then realized

I had just solved one of the great mysteries of physics.

“The answer is Love = dark matter!” I said. They are both everywhere,

all pervading, the entire ocean in a drop

as small as one cell.

His face was blank.

“Look at her,” he thought, “thinking she understands physics

in an instant, when I’ve studied it for decades

and am only now learning one of the great problems!

She is so naïve. Love can’t be the same as

dark matter just because some guru sitting on a pillow

says it is! How ridiculous! I can’t possibly stay around

someone who is so easily led, and clearly wrong.”

I watched his struggle, thinking, He will not be able

to let this go, and he is about to blame me.

He waited a few more polite minutes, then stood

and excused himself. It was clear there was no future

here, so we parted ways, not relishing a fight,

each of us knowing we are right.

#12: Half way!

Wow! That went fast.
Twelve poems in two hours.
It’s kind of bittersweet.
It means it’s almost over.

I thought I would struggle more.
I thought it would take me longer.
I’m still behind, but that’s alright.
I want to diddy-dally a little longer.

It’s an event I look forward to every year.
But the last few years, I’ve slacked off.
Forgot about it (like this year-despite my reminders).
I made a goal to finish this year.

But I don’t want to rush
Though it might feel like I am.
I’m just excited to be writing again.
I kept pushing ideas off today thinking I had to wait.

I truly believe that if you’re a poet:
The thought of writing is exciting,
And also, something dreaded.
Because eventually, you have to end the poem.

Her hand rests on my blank slate

as she contemplates

what words she will sketch on

my blue lines

I feel the scratchiness

of her eraser

it tells me she is unsure

of what her mind wills

her to write

I want those words

on me

because then they are real

I hold all the secrets

between my lines

to have such power

makes me needed

her words need a

safe place