The Poetry Marathon

Last poem of 2017 half marathon!!!!

Quite a fun challenge–at least 90 different words,

Revised  to meet the 100 words at least 90 different words

An Umbrella day

 

Sun splashes her color out

into the sky

opening a wide orange

and red umbrella, a canopy

against the plan of today’s

dark clouds.

Sailors take warning!

It’s a red sky morning!

Sun’s umbrella disappears

as she pushes higher,

fighting for sky space.

Mutual enmity results in shouts,

Tears,  tantrums.

My morning paper news,

awaits on my driveway.

Sighing, I break out my own

bright red umbrella, make

a quick rescue run, then rest

inside to spend my day

missing sun, avoiding

chores, watching the rain.

Brilliance of the Mind

Now I lay me down to sleep

All those dreams I wish to keep

My eyes close

But the movie plays

 

What treasures lie in my mind

Villainous gems too hazy to define

My eyes close

But the creatures snarl and stir

 

Universal conflicts are solved

All our mortal sins are absolved

My eyes close

But the science cures

 

Synapsis rage and fire

Planting seeds to inspire

My eyes close

But the engine burns

 

By the morning light

No memories remain in this twilight

My eyes open

The brilliance dies

Hour 12 : Uncertain Desire

 I feel my path stony in detail

Perhaps mirth and joy curtail

What has infected my zesty soul?

Or perception responsible, my loss at whole

When I used to see dampening moon

To view to leave misery soon

Hovering clouds, not for petty darkness

But décor the beauty with sharpness

Who has dislocated, from the path of life?

Instead of roses, who cut them with a knife

Just a spark of love, requested I

A gentle hand to wipe my eye

When will I be a reason to live?

Ah! Ocean passions to whom I give.

 

SVU

Down by the school yard he sits in his van.

Never having a child to pick up,
No attempt to hide behind a book or magazine,
He just sits there and watches, sometimes for an entire hour.

Some kids are running around the soccer field,
While others just sit, looking sad and forgotten.
Many hop into the real vans, the ones for families, not perverts.

One boy in particular looks extra sad and forgotten,
Probably waiting for his father who lost track of time at the office.
In five minutes he will go ask little Johnny, “Would you like some candy?”

Mental Ramblings

Another year
where will the words
come from
One hundred of them
no less than ninety
Imagery fails me
sunsets, pastel skies,
thunderstorms, music
free form, haiku
three years down
a major way to practice
My brain cannot function
not one more
poem can be written
notebook full of scribblings,
beginnings, mental ramblings
an exciting time of year
this marathon is
Creativity ebbs and wanes
like an ocean wave
twelve straight hours
of creating
like a drain clogged with hair
I’m stopped up
Nothing seeps out and
nothing creeps in
this is the last
I am done
the end

12- Daughter Dear

Freckles

Blue eyes and a bubbly laugh

She loves the tire swing in the backyard

Her daddy pushes her and  she throws her head back

Life is a good place

 

Dots

Her stuffed cat she always holds

They share a spot on mommy’s lap while a story is read

Of princesses and magic spells. Her eyes shut as she drifts in a dream

Hearts over flow with love

 

Spots

Of mud cover her body from play

She’s a mermaid in the bath hidden by soap

Honest eyes and words of an innocent soul

Safe in her parents care

Hour 11

Sweet Dreams of Ice Cream

You can’t possibly cry

when you eat ice cream

I’ll tell you why

 

Ice cream is a lullaby–

melts you into sweet dreams

that do more than satisfy.

Flip Flop

Flip flop
VCS

Flip flop
On the table top
This won’t take a minute
You won’t feel a thing
Except for this
It might be hit or miss

Flip flop
Lying on the table top
It’s a bit of a miracle
A dash of science
Maybe a placebo
Any way I like it

Flip flop
Do the drop
On the table top
It’s magic and a secret
But something says yes

Flip flop
Flip flop
A little dab will do you
At least it’s a start

For some reason I’m tired and my house is falling apart…-12

Panic attack

I’m feeling quite whack

Energy is dipping

So my mind is slipping

Entering a state of sheer adrenaline

The room collapses around me

My drawers fall off of the wall.

And that’s not all.

It’s all on me to fix.

But I’m not sure I’ll last until six.

There is no way to say for sure

but this room is hellish, like Hades’ cur.

Simple due to my choice…

When I finally sleep I shall rejoice.

Until then, memes and spite sustain me

Rest is reckless without support.

I might just ramble till the dawn.

I’m halfway through, it’s too early to yawn.

Twenty-seven hours awake

Twenty more my soul to take.

Keep me running keep it coming

Give me that sweet sugar,

Give me absinthe and vigor.

I shall be victorious.

Congratulations First Half Marathoners

Congratulations First Half Marathoners! I am so happy that you have completed 12 poems in 12 hours! That is wonderful. Thank you for joining us in this madness.

In the past I have personally verified that everyone who applied for a certificate was eligible and then I would make a certificate. That is not possible this year and so we will be operating on the honor system.

If you completed the Poetry Half Marathon please consider the following certificate yours, to update with your name, to print if you choose to do so. We will be taking feedback into consideration, so if you really feel strongly about this new state of affairs please email me at poets@thepoetrymarathon.com to explain your position.

Only use the below certificate if you completed The Half Marathon. Congratulations again on your completion of The Half Marathon. The link below will take to a version of the certificate that is easy to edit.

Half Marathon Certificate

The below image is not as easy to edit and just serves as an example of what the certificate will look like!

Also remember that this year we will be putting together a 2017 Poetry Marathon Anthology.

Submissions will open August 10th and stay open till the 15th.

All submissions must include two poems, no more, no less. All submissions must be made via our email address (poets@thepoetrymarathon.com). The subject line of all emails must be Poetry Submission. Poems must be included in the body of the email.

All poems submitted must be written during the 2017 Poetry marathon. All poems should be completely edited and contain no major grammatical errors.

The first word of every line should not have a capitalization unless it is intentional! Word has an auto caps feature that you can turn off by following the instructions below.

You must indicate which hour each poem was written in. Only poets who completed the whole or half marathon will be eligible to submit.

There is no guarantee that by submitting your poem will be selected although the goal is to include one poem by everyone who submits.

Digital copies will be made available for free to any contributor. Print copies will be available for a reasonable price and any money that is made from them will go towards covering the cost of the marathon.

Want to know what the 2016 Poetry Marathon Anthology was like? Pick up your copy here.