The Poetry Marathon

Autumn Moonlight

Another day is slowly winding down,
As I walk outside not making a sound,
Colorful leaves are dancing in the trees,
Gently swaying in the cool autumn breeze.

The summer flowers are quickly whilting away,
Pansies and dasies will soon be a fad of yesterday,
Squirles and armodillos are scampering about,
Trying to escape a long summer drought.

The day is giving way into the night,
Shadows are dancing in the twilight,
An autumn moon descends in the dark,
In the distance, I can hear a dog bark.

Leaves rustle beneath my tired feet,
Oh, how the autumn air smells so sweet,
Watching the stars twinkle so bright,
I see magic of the autumn moonlight.

 

The Heart of the Matter

Before it’s too late I must learn to appreciate

The part of me that keeps me alive

Eat better before it’s too late

Help it pump better being improving my strides

Because when it one days stops…so do I

Years

Five years, light and laughter fill my eyes.
Airy and breathy, like feathers floating upon the wind.
Hope swells like cresting ocean waves
and dreams rise higher than the desert mountain tops of memory.
The stars and moon never out of reach for the innocent dreamer within me.
Dazzling lights shinning down, head over feet, feet over head,
flying high, tumbling down, landing solid on legs of steel,
while dreaming of weighted gold around my neck.
Can feel it, taste it, long for it,
but some dreams are never meant to be.
Fireworks exploding high into the sky,
bursting brilliant and magical colors just for me.
But things aren’t always what they seem to be.

Ten years, sorrow and suspicion fill my eyes.
Unrelenting and shadowy, like trees moving in the wind on a moonless night.
Escaping reality in front of moving images that fuel more dreams,
and treading upon demon heads as all of heaven looked down.
The stars and moon waiting to be explored for the relentless dreamer within me.
Zero gravity calling down, wanting so much to fly,
leaving Earth’s atmosphere behind.
A rocket jet set as my permanent backpack, hope set on a cosmic summer adventure.
Can feel it, taste it, long for it,
but some dreams can never be.
Prayers and signs, signs and prayers abounded all around,
but things aren’t always what they seem to be.

Twenty years, forgiveness and freedom fill my eyes.
Clear-eyed and glowing, like luminous skin bathed in the balm of Gilead.
New faith and hope blooming, new paths and journeys forged,
grasping and ever reaching for viridescent light.
The stars and moon becoming the eyes of heaven for the impossible dreamer within me.
A thousand lives to live within one heart, demanding thousands of voices to call my name,
seeking paths of crimson silk in every land I walk.
Though every mission I take leads me further away from my deepest dream.
Can feel it, taste it, long for it,
but some dreams are told to wait.
Die to self, die to dreams, awaiting their resurrection,
but things aren’t always what they seem to be.

Thirty years, heartbreak and rejection fill my eyes.
Confused and grieving, like a widow’s child.
Unconditional love searing my heart in two, the husband of my heart forbidden to me,
speaking words of unrequited love and infidelity.
The stars and moon hidden by a celestial cloak from the romantic dreamer within me.
Rejecting his rejection I moved forward, living in a land fixed between two worlds,
embraced by some, unseen by others.
Though love is still unknown, it’s far from a mystery.
Want to feel it, taste it, long for it,
but some dreams are meant to die.
All the why’s parade in a mocking line, “Why wasn’t I good enough?”
but things aren’t always what they seem to be.

Forty years, new hope and longing fill my eyes.
Determined and wise, like ancient fiery flint.
The echoes of every goodbye and every loss sing as a chorus, cheering me on,
reminding me there is no failure, for I do and do and do, never just try.
The stars and moon shine down, reigniting the impossible dreamer within me.
Setting sail to a familiar land, I break free from every blinding shackle,
seasons of abundance and providence awaiting me.
Long dead dreams beckon with resurrected fingers, while new dreams are born.
Can feel it, taste it, long for it,
though some dreams may tarry, not all stay dead.
Though sacrifices were made and all feels lost,
things aren’t always what they seem to be.

 

12th out 12

American Pride

It began on a sunny morn in September,
The 11th will be a day to remember;
Our lives have changed forever,
As this United Nation comes together.

This day started like any other,
I went shopping with my grandmother.
Others left for work; some went to school,
Where teachers tried to teach the Golden Rule.

Breaking news interrupted our daily routine,
We could hardly believe what was seen.
Two jets crashed into the World Trade Tower,
8:46 A.M. Central Time was the early hour.

Many people watched in horror and shock,
They also listened to the ticking wall clock.
When another plane crashed into the Pentagon,
It exploded in many pieces on the lawn.

The world came to a dead standstill,
As we searched our souls for goodwill.
No TV shows or music played that day,
People stood by America, come what may.

It was an emotional day for us all,
News anchors wept, but we will stand tall.
Search and rescue was a tedious task,
Yet, it left unanswered questions to ask.

Who committed this act of hatred and violence?
Americans should not have to face the silence.
Of loved ones that they will never see again,
This was an unspeakable act of sin.

Why did tragedy strike American soil?
I don’t know the answers, but remain loyal.
To a country that has shown great pride,
In honor of everyone that has died.

Now our solders are fighting back,
From this unthinkably awful attack.
Bombs have destroyed permanent structures,
Nevertheless, our hearts will not be ruptured.

As the fight for freedom rages on,
We realize all hope is not gone.
People often take for granted and forget,
Our American pride, an extraordinary gift.

 

Peace

Clarity rings through the darkness of induced sleep.
The fog of yesterday clinging to the present day.
It has no hold, it has no sway, just a whiff of ancient smells.
See, hear, feel, know what has changed,
know what has always been.

Searching for that phantom portal,
a wormhole beyond a black hole’s horizon.
Change course to something better,
change course to something deeper.
Find crushed destiny in the midst of rubble,
in tendrils of chaos that never should have been.
Cannot argue with reality and win.
I must find the peace in the midst of what is now.

 

11th out of 12

HOUR 15 The Zipper

THE ZIPPER

A friend almost died

his ticker, the cause.

Does he need stints or

is a by pass the cure.

 

Today I went to see him

his hospital bed was empty.

My body trembled as I

looked around his room.

 

“Nurse, nurse where is

Mr. G?

I think I have his room right.

Where might he be?”

 

“Are you a relative,” she sighed.

“I am, I am. Is he alright?”

“They sent him down for surgery,

he’s getting his zipper tonight.”

 

I looked at her queerly, so

she explained it to me.

A zipper is a term they use

for by-pass surgery.

 

 

 

Defiance

That’s what they’re calling it these days.

 

They came up with it in a daze.

They think that it’s some sort of phase.

He’s in a haze. He’s in a haze.

Beat

Muscles need the brain

To make them work, except the

Heart. It’s a loner.

 

Beat

Lue

August 13, 2016

 

A Seven Year old Prayer

Thank you for this day,
Thank you for the things you made,
Please watch over me as I lay,
Of the closet monster, I am afraid.

Thank you for the bright sun,
Bless the tall tree and swing,
For playing outside is so much fun,
Bless the bluebirds that sing.

Please bless my Daddy and Mommy,
Keep them safe from all things bad,
Watch over Suzi and little Tommy,
If anything happened, I would feel sad.

Lord, I have one thing to ask,
Please make everyone share,
It is a simple task,
To show everyone we care.

Please watch over my Nana in Heaven,
My mommy says it’s a good place,
Nana died at age eighty seven,
She is watching me now, a smile on her face.

Thank you Lord for being there,
And watching over animals too,
Please keep me in your prayers,
Thanks Lord for all that you do.

 

Fire