The Poetry Marathon

A Critique from My Late Crush

“I wonder if this is the way old crushes die.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty

 

I sit back with a cigarette in one hand

a Montauk Ale in the other

take it all in.

I just finished reading your poetry memoir of me.

Never realized this is how you felt about me

so secretive and so shy.

I didn’t know how much impact I made towards your life until now.

Thank you for your words and craft.

I’m sorry I can’t be a part of your life now.

It’s not meant to be.

Thank you for writing on behalf of my brothers

they are also here and appreciate their poetic tributes.

My Dad he’s here smiling too.

He knows too much now and we’re always in trouble.

Tommy won’t stop talking, John keeps trying to shut him up.

So shy girl thanks and keep writing.

You will always find me in my favorite places.
I know you keep me inside your heart

and that is more than this lost soul could ask for.  Frank

Because I Waited Too Long to Eat

Loud rumbling stomach

makes displeasure clearly known

complaining to all

Prompt 15

Bless her heart

I keep telling myself I can’t save everybody

When I scolded her eight year old cousin for preparing to eat a pile of Oreo cookies without permission

she cut her 17 year old eyes downward as if she wasn’t going to get involved

When I returned a few minutes later, he had consumed them all

I asked her why she hadn’t intervened

Well, he told me you said it was ok earlier

I looked at her. Did it sound like I was ok with him eating the stack of cookies?

Well, I didn’t know who was telling the truth

I looked at her for a few minutes

Well, you can’t tell me adults don’t lie

Regardless of whether I was or was not lying, you knew my disapproval

What am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to take care of him?

I know she was pushing me. I know she was jealous of her cousin getting to move in with me while she is homeless. I know she was playing manipulative games she learned from her mother many years ago before her mother was sent to prison. And yet, I know she secretly longs to find a home with me, too.

Bless her heart.

I keep telling myself I can’t save everybody

 

 

 

 

Learn.

The chilly winds dance around my side
As I’m looking out the window
Looking at the pitch black sky
I was wondering why
I couldn’t reach
The half moon smiling at me
Or the stars
Shining brightly even in the darkest night
My heart pondered why
I couldn’t shine like the sun
Or even smile like the clouds
But I didn’t realise
The nature was only teaching me
All this time.

Question #2023poetrymarathon #prompthour15

Prompt 15

His small problems

became big ones

he set the table with demons

and had a seat

while he scooted near

gave them all the fire

they needed to implode his world

He swam in deep waters

drowning all dreams

punishing himself

 

 

Hour 15-Dear Reader

Dear Reader

We meet again

under the direst of circumstances.

See this year,

I am broken.

Tired.

Uninspired.

You have such faith in me.

I just don’t have it to give you.

Not this time.

Not this place.

I can only write.

Vomit my thoughts

onto this page.

I am callous perhaps.

Too caught up in myself

to even consider your needs.

See this time, these lines are about me.

Not you.

I know that is wrong.

Self-serving. Cold.

Please bear with me

While I pull myself together.

It has been a really harsh month.

 

 

 

you

you

 

brown leather jacket worn at the elbows

top button missing and collar frayed

 

wisp of blond lost near blue eyes, hanging

loose before I slowly brush it away

 

cinnamon cologne clinging to car seats

long after the windows cleared and air cooled

 

fingertips tremoring as they glide

across my cheek, one last kiss goodbye

FINAL EXAM

I would like to start by Congratulating you all on making it this far –
Welcome to your final exam!

This test is made up of the following three parts:
– 20 multiple choice questions
– 20 short answer questions
– 1 500-word essay

Not only will you be tested on your knowledge of the material,
But also, how you are effectively able to apply it in your day-to-day living –
As well as your ability to adapt and change, when the unexpected occurs.

You have 1 hour to show your worth,
Plead your case and fully prove yourself.
You will be graded based on someone else’s opinion of you.

Good luck to you all…
You may start –
Now!

HR-2

When did the world become so cold
It seems life has changed forever
Maybe it was always this way
Somehow we didn’t see it as clear till now

The world is in shambles
So chaotic on every level
Could it have always been this way
We all see it clearly now