The Poetry Marathon

I’ll Always Remember – In Memory of Susan Bachman

Two years ago today, I reached out to help your family
I can still see your parents in my mind as they traveled cross country
Every call, every lead, every person that thought they saw you
All were angels in disguise
And like them, I only wanted to help your family to bring you home
While I never met you in person, every day I worked your search
I learned more and more to where you became like family
Over time, you became so special to me
The more I learned about your background, the more your story hit home
And the more I prayed you would be found safe and sound
The day the lead from Texas came, I got excited
Only to have my hopes dashed yet again
A couple weeks later, it was a call in California
Dejected again
I often wished I could ask you why
Why did you jump from that car
What happened to hurt you deeply
But more, I simply wanted you home
I wanted to bring you back to the family that loved you
As time went on, the leads went cold and my job in the search ended
But, I never stopped thinking of you
Then, one day last April, I read that your remains were found
I cried. But though I felt pain for your family, I found peace in their closure
I’ll never understand why, but I know you’re an angel smiling down on us all
And in some form or another, you have found the inner peace you sought
Even in the pain, that is comforting
In some small way, I find peace in knowing I tried to help your family find you
I’ll always respect your decision, even in not understanding
Moreover than helping your family, I wish I could have helped you

Risen

The darkness that surrounded my body was like the other side.

Of hell.

That risen into my soul the darkness took my soul.

To the other side of hell.

 

Where their isn’t no more risen of the sun that will bring.

The beauty of the warmth upon my soul.

#PoemNo12

7pm – The Madwoman

 

She stands at the front door
Spiral-bound notebook and pen in hand
Tongue between her teeth
She taps the end of the pen on her page.

Friend opens the door from inside, and exclaims!
“Why didn’t you ring the bell?! Come in!”

“Shh! You’re ruining the mood!”
The girl on the step, the poet, says.

“What do you mean?
What could make you stand out on a porch
So near to dark
In a neighbourhood so bad?
You’re mad!”

“Yes! Yes, I know it!”
Exclaimed the poet
“This closed door’s my inspiration
– danged Muse is on vacation –
But of course I know I’m mad!
Mad artists and mad scientists,
It’s just another word for genius!
Leave sanity for the average folk
I’d rather be out of my mind, and know
The secrets of the universe
As shown in a closed front door.”

Prompt For Hour Fourteen

Write a nature poem. But play with the genre. Most nature poems are about the beauty of the natural world. I want you to focus on the intersection of the natural world and the unnatural world. Think dandelions sprouting through the concrete. Think garbage on the ocean or Ivy on a house, even flowers at a wedding.

9 pm

for a while we lay in peace

before the flames of fire

nearer death than life

farther from faith

 

 

 

(Hour 13) 10.30-11.30am. PROMPT, theme: “missing person”

Another poem for one of the sequences I’m working on. The missing person theme suits it perfectly. & while I like the poem, I wouldn’t mind trimming it. I just don’t have time today.

dust shower

i. text
she texts me saying
i’m on my way home.
she’s coming back
to collect me. we
are going shopping.
i jump in the shower
to get ready

ii. shower
i only come to, 40 minutes later.
lucky the water still tumbling down
didn’t drown me then & there.
mum is nowhere in the house

iii. sick
i stand up. i throw up.
i sit down. still throw up.
wait. till the queasy passes
more minutes later. stand.
throat muscles contract
but i fight against
the rising bile

iv. phonecalls
i call her mobile. no answer.
i call dad’s mobile. no answer.
& then, call gran & grandad
even though they never answer.
no answer.

v. driving
even though i don’t
have my full license
i jump in my car
& go looking for mum.

vi. tree
find her 4WD 5 k’s
from our gate, on the road
into town. it has crashed
into a gumtree. her door
is shut. the window
wound down. keys still
in the ignition

vii. dust
mum is no where
to be seen. only
a pile of fine orange
dust on her seat
& all

         through

                      the car

Foot Lines

The moon,

cool stone

in shoe

of night.

Potential

Awaiting inspiration

far on the horizon of the sea

dark thick heavy clouds promise rain

winds lick my face

teasing

perhaps a flash of brilliance within my mind

to put upon this screen

 

Orishan Love

creator of the finest metals

blacksmith of the universe

Lover of the sweetest of waters

supreme warrior of love and all that is right

crafter of hearts

architect of soul’s blueprint

destined only for me

sun’s shine and moon’s glow

God and Goddess hour of Love

you my Ogun and I your Oshun

~ism