The Poetry Marathon

A trial run

I plan to cut and paste my work from word documents, and I want to see how that might go, make sure I know what I’m doing. So here is a test run with a poem I wrote this weekend. As a bit of introduction, I took my parents to visit the Holocaust Museum this past week, and out of that this poem arose.

 

Aktion T4

 

In October of 1939

Hitler instructed doctors and hospitals

to murder

the mentally challenged

the physically handicapped

those incurably sick

all those considered lebensunwertes Leben – “unworthy of life”

At first, they were just to be denied medical care and nourishment

to die slowly of neglect

Later, patients were injected, or gassed

to make the process quicker

By the end of 1941

93,521 hospital beds had been emptied by the policy

 

There were several suggested reasons for the program:

It reduced suffering, therefore it was compassionate

It cut costs

It eliminated pressure on the welfare budget

– Hitler was making Germany great again

 

Dear Mr. Trump –

Your health care bill is so slow

killing the undesirables by denial of medical care

And, besides, some weak or low energy people

might slip through

A program like this bigly guy’s (he was huge, let me tell you!)

would be much more cost effective

Think of the savings!

And how compassionate

when these people, uncomfortable to look at

are finally gone from your sight?

I suggest you call your program

Action Trump4

 

Test, test, test

Greetings!

Just want to be sure I’m on the right page – literally!

Best to all,

Maggie

First timer

Hi, my name is Donna.

This is my first marathon. Not just poetry, I mean, I think it is my first marathon of any type. We may have had a fund-raising dance marathon in high school, but if I remember right, everyone just signed up for one hour. So it was like a team effort. Not like stay-awake-all-night-crafting-something-sensible sort of thing.

I’m thinking:

In the darkest hours / When the brain is surely fried / Can one write haiku?

 

another introduction ~

Hi all ~

This will be my fourth marathon, although last year’s was a bust due to a serious family illness. I had to drop out before I really started. I was sooo disappointed.

This year, I’m settled in a new state, in a new chapter of my life. I’ve been a writer of one sort or another all my life — primarily poetry, but I also write non-fiction. I’ve published both, as well as journalism & academic writing. My work background is as eclectic as my writing: journalism, academia, the arts & humanities. Writing has been a doorway for me into all kinds of places & jobs.

My plan for this marathon (actually half-marathon; I do not function well on no sleep) is to just do the prompts. What I found in years 1 & 2 was that I just had to trust the process. Oh — and have a LOT of good coffee and/or Thai iced tea to help keep me going!

Here’s to poets, and their brilliantly coloured voices!

Year 3

Poetry and writing are essential to my wellbeing. I’ve been writing and publishing for almost half a century, so I write almost daily, but the half marathon gives me a day just to celebrate poetry. My schedule is crazy, but I find a way to make time for this.

Looking forward to Saturday!

Hello

Hi, my name is Tanya and I’m new to this marathon thing. I used to write stories and poems all the time but I lost a fiancee in 1994 to drowning and then in 1998 I lost another one when he was hit while riding his motocycle. I have kids by both. Anyway I’ve been busy raising my kids and just trying to get back to me. I’m throwing myself into this because I want to get back to writing and what better way than to stay up posting poems every hour. I hope to embrace what emotions and creativity I may have in me. Thank you for letting me be involved.

hello!

This is post to familiarize myself with the poetry marathon thematics.

Hello friends! I’m very excited to be here. My name is Ruchi and I live in Brecksville city, Ohio. I’m a published poet with a background of broadcasting media and print media, in India. I have been writing news assignments and news for a while but found my Nirvana in the poetry about 3 years back. Since then, I’m following, reading, writing, expressing thoughts, voices and issues through my poems. I write mainly on the gender issues, social issues and ecology. My poems have been published in online journals and anthologies in South Africa, India, UAE, Uzbekistan and USA.

My inspiration to write mainly come from my surroundings and memories. I am looking forward to learning from you all. And, hope to connect with the like-minded people from across the world.

-Haiku-

a dream- inspiring

within confines of chaos

echo harmony and peace

Thanks! Happy writing everyone. 🙂

Testing with a Poem

The silky hot liquid steams in my mug

I inhale its frothy fragrance in.

It is rich and strong, with a touch of sweet

It awakes me so my day can begin.

I take just a sip and warmth fills my soul

Down my throat it flows so strong

I smile and stretch, my mind renewed

I rise and go all day long.

Newbie Me

This is my first Poetry Marathon and I’ll be doing the Half Marathon for starters. I’m in Clearwater Florida and just doing a test post at 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning (what?!) to practice. I’ve been prepping by cancelling all appointment from now until after the challenge, cleaning and decluttering my work spaces, and stocking up on essentials like English Breakfast tea. I’ll be playing here off an on to make some new friends and to get the feel for posting. I’m thrilled to be a part of this!

Introduction

Hi,

• I’m a returning marathoner. I write poetry a lot and love thr challenge of the marathon – I like the challenge of sticking to the prompts as I find that way, it takes me beyond my comfort zone. My special interest is to match up my poetry with work from my other great passion – my photography. I have my own writing blog and facebook page where I share my work.