24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Vertigo
It’s always so much farther
down than up
and I
constantly
fight the urge to
throw myself
off the edge,
into their beds,
or into
nude,
all you can
eat
nonstop
erotic cabarets.
Face first –
always –
not head first…
I always lead with my lips
and
my brain
eventually follows.
But
it’s just always
so much farther
down than up
And the
height
makes me dizzy;
but I lead with
my
heart and
I never hit the ground.
(c) R. L. Elke 2016
Marathon Stream
breathe deep, exhale, now write
poems, poetry, fingers typing
words that make sense, words that are silly,
words that resonate, palpate and pulse
to ramble with sentences, free from constraint
let the muse flow unfettered, she’s loose and unkempt
a creek’s worth of water and words, creative juices
relax, let go, relent, forget
when sentences won’t come, don’t panic or tremble
just shake off the water and float through the pause
all is well, your best has been done
the race is half over, contest near complete
grateful when finished, content and connected
ready to swim once again in twenty-seventeen
you rock, you’ve done it, splash gratitude gushing
now shut down, rest your fingers, dry off, go to sleep
A woman’s womb is the source of all healing
Not just for whom she creates but also for herself
That’s why it’s so much going on in the world. Mother Earth is in need and a woman’s womb is the answer
A source to heal
Create
Protect
Love
Peace
~ism
Softly she walks lost in thought
And wonders what fate
Has in stored for her today.
All the paths around her
are blocked by mountains
and escape seems impossible.
None of that matters now.
She has peace here
on the boardwalk by the lake
And though tomorrow
she have to fight for her life.
Today she has inner peace.
we each slice out
a corner plot of this planet
to call our own, to own
the air we breathe, try to
create space where we feel
safe, nurtured, secure
some among us will venture
further and further with each breath
see the expanse that makes us
feel so small, our every effort at air
so miniscule, yet so wanting
breathing is both voluntary and involuntary
a voluntary action anticipates
goal-orientated movement
we anticipate life with every breath
our goal to fill this space within us
to fill this space outside of us
to become the air we breath
[Prompt: Photos]
It’s the moment you dread
despite its short timespan.
The moment you put everything
on the line in an attempt to better yourself.
Your body says red but your mind is telling you green.
So you keep at it, finish the set and then rise up in a blaze of glory
this is my last shift
I walk out of the hospital and stop outside of the revolving door
I am jostled from side to side
as nurses escape
a swarm of blue and white
their faces as weary and worn as mine
this is my last shift
understaffed overworked underappreciated
I can’t do it anymore
I’m nothing. I’m no one.
stretched too thin. patients who are customers
customers who are always dissatisfied
I’ve been yelled at
I’ve been threatened
I’ve been belittled, dehumanized, and disrespected
for the last time.
This is my last shift! I say to a nurse
walking past me.
And to another and another.
They nod their heads knowingly.
It’s all our last.
Dare you!
Speak truth whole day,
I dare you.
Pray to god without any demand,
I dare you.
Think selflessly for others,
I dare you.
Share the real you,
I dare you.
Feel the darkness of a blind,
I dare you.
Listen all your bad without a word,
I dare you.
To fake is easy,
To trust is difficult.
To break is easy,
To make is difficult.
Try to feel others pain.
To let your anger drain.
I dare you!
So you want to know where I’ve been ?
I been chasin.
I been gamin.
I been playin.
I been waitin.
I been here
I been there
I been absolutely nowhere…
I been hi and lo lookin for someone.
Been to hell and back
Been to the deepest parts of the oceans
Been to the highest mountain
Been lookin for something.
Been searching for a love
Not so complicated love
Some kind of special love
I want that real love
Will try not to hurt me love
Will always love you love
We can be happy love
I want to love you love
Butterflies kind of love
Sweep me off my feet love
Doesn’t make me cry love
Make beautiful music love
Hot and steamy love
Wake me from my sleep love
Let’s do it again love
I won’t fall asleep love
Breakfast love
Hold me tight love
Never let me go love
Flowers for no reason love
Spontaneous kind of love
Just because love
Be by my side love
Always got my back love
Never disappointing love
Won’t leave me waiting love
Tomorrow may not come love
Cherish the day love
Never run away love
Someone to call my own love
Talk to you all day kind of love
Grow old together love
Together forever love
Never walk away love.
So where have you been?
