The Poetry Marathon

I Survived the 2023 Poetry Marathon

The following images are part of the Poetry Marathon Tradition. They are for you to do with what you want, but they are often used as a way to celebrate your success. Full disclaimer, as per every year, two of them leans a little into dark humor.

The official list of everyone who completed the half marathon and the full marathon will be released in the next few days. Remember if you are not on the list it probably has more to do with our algorithm than with you, and please reach out so we can correct it.

The Celestial Kiss

The Celestial Kiss

 

planets collide

hearts

yours and mine

3 / Little Poetry Projects (Q-Tips)

Little Poetry Projects

 

Q-Tips are soft small clouds in a glass jar

but on bad days we smell the sulphur lightning

and hear thunder when we scrub our ears for wax.

“Can you taste the wax?” said Simon,

our cat.  “Yes” said one of us.  “No” said the others.

Simon has it all figured out now.  That poet,

he thinks, knows so little about what matters;

she’ll be one of the first to go.  Comme ci comme ça.

 

On good days we stroll the boardwalk at Boulevard Park

and I think of my Danish grandmother’s nickname

for me, which is a secret I tell nobody

although Simon knows it and under correct circumstances

he would talk.  We lie on the beach, collect rocks

with white rings.  It is good luck to throw them

at passing children and if one of us is ever strong

enough to hit a cloud we will control the rain forever.

 

H.O.P.E. – Hour 24

H – Helping others to overcome trials, challenges, disasters, and despair.

O – Overcoming prejudice to offer love and assistance to all, no matter their color or gender or sexual practices.

P – Promising to perform to the best of our abilities within our communities to support and nurture one another.

E – Everyone deserves love. Everyone deserves care. Everyone deserves assistance. Everyone needs HOPE.

There’s a million ways to say goodbye

There’s a million ways to say goodbye

 

A belt buckle embossed with a flower and vines,

large at the center, spindling out into nothingness

 

M&Ms with our faces stamped on them, colors

brightened by our smiles and doting wide eyes

 

A diamond cross necklace shining bright in the light,

another with engraved hearts glowing as one

 

A luggage tag that says With Love From Chicago,

paired with hope that reaches down to Nashville

Eden – Hour 23

Skies filled with white clouds
fluffy and untainted by gasses and crud
Brilliant sparks of radiant sunshine
piercing straight through

Azure waters gently lap the shore
pink sand free of debris and trash
River beds strewn with rocks
not plastic or paper hats

Forests grown so tall in the rich soil
branches extend tendrils of moss intertwine form bridges and
places for huge birds nests

A breeze so crisp and clear moves green leaves to sing in the wind
Some day I hope to see Mother Earth
back this way again

Pizza Pizza Hour 22

Pizza pizza we love pizza
Pizza here pizza there
Pizza everywhere
Even pizza in our hair

I like mine white in white
no red sauce on mine if you please
Most like salsa and mozzarella
Just white cheese for me is all I need

Keep your bacon and anchovies
heed no tomatoes or tomato seeds
Just plain cheese that is white all
over will do me proudly – see?

2 / Caitlin’s Hair

Caitlin’s Hair

 

is a long ladder to her ears,

each rung a wave that follows

 

not what OSHA rules but

its own curvy direction.

 

It is a strawberry red umbrella,

a super-thick invisibility cloak

 

smelling all too wonderful

to hide Caitlin.  Caitlin’s hair

 

is the unhemmed fringe of the world’s

longest pair of jeans

 

walking through the art gallery

in search of Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”

 

or Renoir’s “Young Girl Combing Her Hair”

or works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

 

who were the dudes who totally got

Caitlin’s hair.  Some say a little mouse

 

lives in there and hides cheese

under her shirt collars

 

and swings from hoop earrings

when it’s frisky.  It’s a lovely mystery.

 

(based on image prompt from hour 2)

 

Failure

It was only a nap

Just a half hour

That was all I needed

I set an alarm

I couldn’t stay awake

I slept past it

My final poem

Late

Running Water – Hour 21

Running water soothes the soul
replenishes the soil
cleans the spirit
calms the mind

Running water from the rain
feeds the plants
revives the trees
flows deep to cool and ease

Running water in my bath
a deep blue lagoon of blue
Pretending instead
it’s a glistening waterfall running