The Poetry Marathon

She murmured,softly.
Hearing the giggling voice,
I jumped out of my bed.

Giggling again,but can see nothing.

“Who are you?”,I asked.
“I am the one who lives for you,
I am the one who loves you the most,
I am the one who wipes your tears,
I am the one who gives the best of the kisses,
If others are something to you,I am your everything”,the voice said.

A hard strike,
I opened my eyes and saw my mom,
she threw the pillow onto my face and walked off.
I hugged my pillow tightly,
“I am the one who beats you the hardest,only for this hug!”,the voice from nowhere murmured.

iambic paratrooper

although I am diametrically
opposed to any & all kinds of violence,
when artistic militiamen stormed
parliament my heart’s diameter
swiftly exploded into diamond shards.
iambic paratroopers might bring peace.

Once, long ago,
When love was new and young,
When love was firm and supple,
When love was as plentiful as hope,
I threw my head back passionately and said,
“You will never replace me! I am all you need!”

I am the love of your life. 
I am your partner in crime.
I am the mother of your children.
I am your secret keeper.
I am your cheerleader.
I am your champion.

I freely gave my job description
Boldly, fearlessly, proudly.
Yet, as hard as I tried, 
I no longer do.
Passion falls to duty
Hurt destroys honor and trust.

Time finds a way,
To distort, erode or forge.
Changes so subtle and small,
That Shifts perceptions; assigns blame.
Until I scream with every cell in my body,
”You can’t replace me! I am already gone!”

I am breathing
I am living
I can see, I can walk

I am focused
I am determined
I embrace what I’ve thought

I am fearless
I am protected
I am ready or not
‘cause today’s all there is
I am bending the clock

I will fight tooth and nail
for the dreams that I dream
I am love
I am grateful
I am what I believe

The man has come!
How I did not see!
How I missed the feeling?
Which has been there for a long time
He was always there
And I never knew!
How I am waiting to fall in love!
Yes, To fall in love with you..

Now he is here;
Glaring at me
Like magic he has got to see!
I wonder “Is it me?”
People with this thought are few
One is them, now, is you..
How I am waiting to fall in love
Yes, To fall in love with you..

This feeling won’t be new
But I wish it to be true
By the smiles you will know
But a cry is important too!
In the eyes you will see
One day, it will be you, and , just you!
How I am waiting to fall in love
Yes, To fall in love with you..

Surprises are on the way!
Wish they are pleasant anyway.
Sparkles in the eyes,
And laughter on the face
With open arms, here I wait
Wondering if you’re the one!
How I am waiting to fall in love
Yes, To fall in love wit you..

Shadows of yesterday linger

While the new sun rises.

I am grief.

I am regret.

I am sadness.

A new day is here but I can’t move on.

Music fills the air, but all I hear is you.

I know what you’d say,

“Be good, be happy, and take care of the babies.”

But it’s hard to start at hour one

on a new day

in a new song

without you.

I am the new day.

I am the new verse in the song.

I am what you were.

Image courtesy of Soorelis at Pixabay

I am happy, then I am sad;

I am young but feel so old

Then I am old but feel so young;

Sometimes, I am “just me”

Other times, I am everyone

I could possibly think to be

When I’m awake, I am “just me”

But in my dreams, I am “real me”

In my dreams I am Elven Princess

When I’m awake I just pretend to be…

I am chrysalis waiting to come into being

Soon, I’ll be able to say: “I am Butterfly”

Antoinette LeRoux © 2019

“I yam what I yam.”
– Popeye the Sailor Man, 1929

“I am I, Don Quixote!” once
proclaimed the brave knight
to emulate him I have long strove
sans mule, though never lacking a
suitable Sancho Ponza
I have discombobulated windmills
slain foes with honor, with words

Handy with tongue lance, I am.

“I am I, Don Quixote” in dreams
I speak these words
to no one in particular
to everyone I am trying to prove
myself that I am I, me

It is not a boastful infringement
on G-d’s copyright
proclaiming – I am not – to being
‘a’ or ‘the’ great anything

I am I

dreamer, poet, chaser of parable
wearing dented armor
weathered patina of a life
lived with purpose, I suppose as
resolve frequently gave way
to happenstance-cum-opportunity

I am I, Don Quixote incarnate
in sprit, in thought
not always, I know, in deed

I am I, noble knight errant of now
I am I, who has hired, retired
many a Sancho Panza
those who always kept mules fed
lances sharp
my ego in check

I am I though not Don Quixote

I am I
husband, parent, grandparent
friend, comrade, teacher

Doer of deeds, liver of life

I am I, not Don Quixote though maybe
just once, I would like to don
the great one’s helmet, make
one final, heroic windmill charge

– Mark L. Lucker
© 2019
http://lrd.to/sxh9jntSbd

Poetry Marathon Anthology – Call for Submissions

Second Hour

 Musiq

Music is my sanctuary,
I make homage to this throne,
for healing my mind and my soul
when I’m troubled or alone.
Manifold melodies; ethereal  tones.

Lost in genres of classic, jazz, gospel
R&B then blues,
racing tempos and soft nuances
symphonies and fugues,
and no one around to upset the ambience,
or disturb the mood.

Hours upon hours changing
playlists and styles,
I get wrapped up in memories
and get lost for a while.

Reflections of people and places
marking major milestones…
Rights of passages
felt in the depth of my heart,
to the bone, to the bone!

Through blues and the gospel
the sound of suffering and victory
swells up in my soul,
from riveting shouts of glory,
to mournful cries,
being left out in the cold.

Music is my mainstay,
like eating struggle food
When you’re broke.
Oh!  The smells, the sensations
and the emotions it invokes!

R&B strikes memories of
Doo-wop groups competing
under the streetlights.
So hip… so cool-breeze;
such a teenager’s delight!

What soul-stirring joy I feel,
What torrent of tears
pours from my spirit,
from past misery and fears.
Soul music tells sad stories
while their images appear.

That song, this album,
those jazz grooves I’ve played,
helped write my Life-song,
and the history I’ve made.

Second Hour

Seventh Solstise
Compton, CA 90222
June 22, 2019 @9:46

Beautiful, misty morning, thank you! I am Blessed!

I am glad for last night’s peaceful rest!

When wispy clouds disappear,

I am sure the hazy skies will clear!

I am starting out a bit slow,

But I am sure I’ll get better as I go!

I am pleased for this opportunity to let my words flow!