The Poetry Marathon

8 // don’t starve (together)

you better start working
or you’ll be dead by the hour
–characters dashing

there aren’t any instructions
what do we need what is it
food and sanity

–voice in my earphones
how do I find sanity
no no you have to not lose it

what is that / no don’t do that
oh good job now you’re dying
well how do I stop it / I don’t know

there was a hand I swear I saw a hand
oh sure you did sure
–characters by fire at night

we need to build things / what do we need for that
–confident voice
we need science

it’s fun but I’m not sure if it’s for me
we can always come back to it
let’s play something else

shots shots shots shots shots

my head thick with fuzz
snapping it back
down down it goes
the sting down in my chest

snapping it back
i ask for another
the sting down in my chest
it burns

i ask for another
my head thick with fuzz
it burns
down down it goes

Weather

The softness of a warm summer morning

The crispness of breath in winter

The smell of fall leaves drifting to the ground

The sound of a loud forceful spring storm

 

Wakens every sense

Presents every emotion

 

The melancholy of a gray winter day

The joy of life budding in spring

The resolve of leaves changing and falling

And the happiness of honeysuckle in summer

 

It always keeps us guessing…

But it’s a great excuse to buy boots

Hour 8-Morning

The clock ticks. It’s loudness piercing the hum of the fan

The groan of husband, reading the prompt. Cat is missing. Sleeping soundly

in a quiet hidden space. Gentle sunlight plays with shadows.

 

Soft morning musing

Verse of married delights

A mellow whisper .

 

Roller

Roller around and around while the wheels turn into the spin of the beat and then sound in some type of formation so that the beat is clear…

Folding Clothes

It may sound weird, but I like to fold clothes
Perhaps it’s the methodical, soothing, under and over
Feeling of cloth beneath my fingertips
Pants, shirts, dresses, it doesn’t matter; i like to fold.

Perhaps it’s the methodical, soothing, under and over
Requires no thought, no creativity, no critique of my work
Pants, shirts, dresses, it doesn’t matter; i like to fold.
The best part I think, is the smell of freshly washed linen and

Folding Clothes requires no thought, no creativity, no critique of my work
It’s may sound unusual, but I like to fold clothes
The best part I think, is the smell of freshly washed linen and
Feeling of cloth beneath my fingertips

VAMOS Junto

VAMOS SOLO

LAS PALABRAS NOS GUIAN

DARME TU BENENO

Y QUIERO TU VALOR

DEME SU CARINO

Y TODO SU CALOR

ANDAMOS TODA NOCHE

LLEVEMOS NADA

AQUÍ EN LOS ARBOLES

DEME TU AMOR

ALADO DE LOS FLORES

UN BESO PARA MI

ADENTRO DE TU BRASOS

IS WHERE I WANNA BE.

by Khalifah Luciano

Spanglish

Poem 8: Escape: A Pantoum

Her smile stretched redly.
Eyes burned behind the cage of her lashes.
Cheeks bounced like balls atop her lips.
No one told her for whom she posed.

Eyes burned behind the cage of her lashes.
Her empty belly trembled.
No one told her for whom she posed.
Leg muscles bunched, ready for flight.

Her empty belly trembled.
Her smile stretched redly.
Leg muscles bunched, ready for flight.
Cheeks bounced like balls atop her lips.

8 How Can you Mend A Broken Heart?

Tears welling up around the eyes that trickles down effortlessly

A silent sob, wrecking one’s heart, A forlorn face,

sad trodden eyes, A far-away look, seeing nothing,

Quivering lips that’s partially shut

How can you mend a broken heart?

To understand and accept that what’s not meant to be,

really..not meant to be

That time spent together will be just that…A memory

To cherish, to hold close to your heart, not to let go

To dwell on what ifs, what nots and what WHATS(!)

How can you mend a broken heart?

One must let go, Some says you’re not good together

Nothing lasts a lifetime, nor forever

Everything, everyone is dispensable

and goodbye should be it

How can you mend a broken heart?

Experts say: “This is detrimental to your health”

Better move on and look for worthwhile others

to occupy one’s mind and time

Diversify. There’s lot of fish in the ocean, and so on and so forth

How can you mend a broken heart of a child of 5?

Who looks forward to Fridays and weekends

to be able to be with his TABLET,

that’s taboo during week days and school days?

How can you mend a broken heart?

Help! A grandmom who loves this 5-year old dearly

And a silent participant, who tried to alleviate

the broken heart of NATHAN

With lots of hugs, lots of kisses and tight embraces to boot,

soothing words…?

At a loss, regretfully, nothing works

ahh…life…

What Good is life

If everything ran

According to plan

How dull would life be

Without its demands

Without a piece of the pie

Missing a slice

There’d never be wonder

Or questioning why

While this statement to you

May sound less than true

What good is life

If you’ve nothing to lose

If it always felt right

With never a bite

Then no remedies

Would you need to find

We all wish for the day

Free of all pain

But you know what they say

About  no pain no gain

What can you do

But to accept this as true

What good is life

If you’ve nothing to lose