The Poetry Marathon

Introductory Post

Hello Everyone!

I’m excited to participate in this year’s Poetry Marathon. I’m a first timer and am looking to finish a half marathon this time around.

I’m 34, married, and have two young sons. I live in Warrensburg, Missouri USA on a small farm, though I lived in Kansas City until I was 27. I am a high school English teacher and a middle school wrestling coach. I enjoy studying chess, practicing martial arts, and writing poetry. I live my life heavily influenced my samurai ethos. I believe in the mutual cultivation of mind, body, and spirit/heart as a way to develop the complete individual. A scholar, a warrior, an artist. Through these paths all beauty is revealed. I like to live close to the earth, simply, and in service to others.

Poetry was the first form of writing I fell in love with, and is still my choice format. I lean heavy on free verse and believe the best poems come from raw, spontaneous purging. I cannot prepare you for what you may read in my poetry. While I do go back through and edit what I have written, I try to keep what I put on the page as unfiltered as what passes through my mind daily. I’m not promising any literary gems, or even that much talent, just random, poetic, ramblings that are a complicated way of saying very little. The works I create during the marathon may or may not inspire introspection in others. No guarantees. If anything, my poems will serve as a window for others to peer into my very probable insanity. I think like this, and I have a desire to write like this, so I am. I feel the Marathon will suit my style of poetry very well. Looking forward to what surfaces throughout this creative endeavor.

Best wishes to all.

New to this but excited to be here!

Hi everyone:

I am brand new to this and am doing a half-marathon.  I have always loved writing, I wrote short stories when I was younger and kept detailed journals.  I abandoned writing after college, a combination of “real world” distractions and laziness.  But writing was always in the back of my mind.  About five years ago, a friend suggested/challenged me to start writing again, but this time to try poetry.  This was at a point in my life when I was temporarily unemployed and spending my days wandering around NYC.  I had never considered poetry before, always deeming it “not my thing” or too technical.  I started a notebook which I called ‘Maria’s Big Book of Bad Poetry” as a joke to keep my expectations low.  As it turns out, not only did I start to like poetry (and learned that my assumptions of “form” and “technicality” were just that–assumptions), I realized that poems gave me a freedom I didn’t feel with short stories.  But I struggle with finding time to write, and I am hoping the half-marathon will be the challenge I need to get started again.

Participating in the half marathon

Hi!

This is my second year as a half marathoner. Looking forward to the challenge

Joanie

and so it begins….

Excited to be doing my third full marathon. I made so many friends through the last two years and hope to make a few more. The support offered here has led to my being ready to really put myself out there. Can’t wait to see what is in store for us this year.

and so it begins…

cliche, but apropos as

we await the start

Lue

Introductory post

Hi!

My name is Catherine. I’ll be doing the full, 24-hour marathon. It’s my first-ever marathon, but I’m pretty excited for the challenge.

Poetry Marathon 2017, here I come!

I’m back!

But under a new pen name (The Phrase Florist/Jody T. Morse in 2016, The Bountiful Balcony Poet/T. Haven Morse in 2017) and going for a full this year (halfied it last year).

Revved up and ready to write. Huge thanks and love to Caitlin and Jans! 🙂

I am so excited…1st Poetry Marathon

Good Day All,

My name is JGomez and this is my 1st- 24 hour Poetry Marathon.

I have never did a marathon before, not even a walking marathon, however I am excited and pump for this adventure.

I know it is going to be a challenge but I am ready.

I have written prompts to keep me focus, I have a selection of jazz music ready, and that weekend all food will be prepared ahead of time.

My goal is to finish strong and to be able to review my work and smile.

I hope you are gearing up for this challenge too.

Wishing all Marathoners the best of Luck!

 

No Stairs Here

To be stairs

Sure, steps always, but stairs?

Floating upwards

Built-in integrity

Supported intentionally from

The very first nail.

Instead of this flat thing,

Winding and never feeling

The full exertion of those walking

This simple path.

Never mind the location!

The path doesn’t see

What the feet are connecting with

Supported by mountains

A grateful pause of exertion

Amidst mountain tops

At sunrise

A respite from the perils of cross country traveling

No the simple path does not know what it is

Giving direction at a steady elevation

No stairs here, Praise God

Re-introduction: Kevin J. O’Conner

Greetings and Salutations! I have again signed up for the insanity that is The Poetry Marathon (okay, half the insanity, since I’m planning to do the 12-hour version—so help me, I like sleep); this is my introduction.
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The 2017 Poetry Marathon Registration is Open

The Poetry Marathon is a yearly event where poets write 24 poems in 24 hours. There is also a half marathon option where poets write 12 poems in 12 hours. The full marathon goes from 9 AM ET on August 5th till 9AM ET on August 6th. There are two half marathon options. One starting at 9 AM ET on August 5th and the second starting at 9 PM ET on August 6th. To learn more about the marathon visit our main page here.

You can apply to register from today, July the 20th, through midnight eastern time on the 25th of July.

All applications are made through this form. (Follow the link to sign up)

If you have any questions please email us at poets@thepoetrymarathon.com