The Poetry Marathon

Hour 15- See Me, Please

I saw you standing there

Alone and wondering

In the concrete courtyard

Waiting to go into the garden

You looked so confused

Waiting there

So I decided to help you out

I drifted towards you

Reaching out

I wanted to let you know

The garden was yours to enter.

My hand touched your back

Guiding and gentle

You reached back with your hand

And felt…..

Nothing.

I watched sadly as you turned to look

Your eyes could not find me

No matter how hard I tried

To get your attention.

Alas, all I could do was walk at your side

Hoping that you would know I was there.

A part of me feels you knew

A part of me felt your wish to know.

An inaudible sigh sends a nebulous breath

Whispering against your skin.

You slowly nod, a small smile on your face

And make your way into the garden.

I drift away into a corner

To try again with someone else

Hoping they will see me.

I see the blue of the cloud and yellow of the sun in the distance

Standing at the edge of the cliff, there is not a single line in sight to say where the sky meets green earth. The yellow sun dazzles somewhere and I see the beautiful yellow roses wobble and dance to the beat of the wind. I want to wrap up this moment and tuck it with me forever.

Prompt #15

On the first Friday of each month

she walks into the coffee house and

orders the same thing. Pineapple cider.

It’s 6 bucks. She always tips.

Then she goes into the

adjacent room where the

poetry reading is about

to start.

 

I heard her once. Poems

mostly about her kid. I went to school with her

daughter so I thought they were funny.

And maybe a little sad.

 

Just like her.

15 Sightings

Take a look closer

In the pattern of a leaf

For the stripey rocks

And roadside flowers

 

Desperate weeds that poke

Dragonflies who visit

Bunnies hiding underneath

Chickadees that flurry

 

See the big picture

In the small things

Rain filled brooks

Acorns tumbling down

 

When your eyes understand

Then ears can hear

The geese leaving town

And Santa on the roof

Hour 15: Lost love

A love once bright,
Now fading,
Laughter slowly receding,
Leaving me to ponder, where did love go?

Though our love didn’t forever last,
In what used to be,
I’ll find solace in cherished memories.

 

Prompt 15

Can’t unsee

 

Future

I thought we’d be the librarian we wanted

I thought we’d be the lawyer inspired to be

I thought my present wouldn’t leave us haunted

I thought that there will be a future willingly to see

I look at future me and wonder

Because even she doesn’t know what her mask is hiding from under

Nonhuman (15)

The face is gone

brick came through windshield

thrown from the back of a work truck

graceful, in a perfect line

like it had wings

sent by God and physics

to annihilate face and head

so that there’s nothing to grieve

except limbs, legs and torso.

What’s Wrong?

I want to cry
But I couldn’t tell you why
I don’t even know it myself

I feel so overwhelmed
My fight or flight is activated
What’s wrong with me?

Logic knows I am alright
I’ve nothing to fear, I’m safe
Yet something is amiss

Just breathe, I tell myself
Breathe through the feelings
Breathe away the panic

Now the music is too loud?
I can hear everything
Going on around me, all at once

I feel like I’m suffocating
Should I step outside?
There’s too many people out there

What is this weight I feel?
I wish it would go away
I just want to be okay

Hour 15, Poem 18

I was there during the diagnosis
I was the one to take you to the hospital
Multiple times, back and forth
I was there when you fell down
I was the one to pick you up
I saw you struggle and win
I saw you hopefully looking towards the future
Toxic positivity
I then saw you despair
Disillusioned with the world
Shut in your own little one
I saw you slipping
Day by day
I saw you give up on everything
And I was there when you finally
Decided to let go
And no matter where you are, just know
I will be here to welcome you home.