The Poetry Marathon

earthsound

Summer

Cacophony runs free from mouths of children, liberally testing the acceptable usage of the ever-elusive outside voice, demonstrating its voraciousness and enthusiasm, un-eagerly awaiting the end of a two-month utopia.

 

Fall

Hurried scratching of graphite on pulverized, flattened, and bleached wood pulp fills the otherwise muted room.  The scrape of metal on tile interrupts.  A pin.  A pen.  Click.  It’s test day.

 

Winter

5am ear-splitting rings reverberate as an automated voice on the other end of the line yells those words.  Magic is found in the of laughter and the squeals of joy.  The world is silent, the hearts of children are exploding with audible glee.  Snow day.

 

Spring

The flutter of chirps and wings abounds.  At times too early, at times inciting hope and a chance for renewal.  For rejuvenation.  A new season.  And new day.  Sing your song.

Hoodwinked

He came to me on a beautiful summer night, the machines were roaring and the night stars were glistening. He said he was there to help me, to rescue me, to protect me.. He lied!

11:46 – before darkness, haiku #1

Wake, eat, dress, leave, do,

fill or kill time, whichever,

just know, it comes back

Before Darkness

There was a Light in the Garden..

Holy and pure.

Sweet melodies rang out

soft and sure.

Eden: a treasure, a blessing, a gift.

an endless bounty…

until the Rift.

How long o’er it’s paths

did they tread?

How many whispered wisdoms

were shed?

Then, there, the Tree

with tempting fruit

to lead astray,

granting evil salute..

to the one who would destroy

and bring the Dark

upon the world.

Then, the Dark seemed to triumph

on another Tree.  

God was dead

with certainty.  

But, as it chuckled

deep and grim

over the violence

done to Him…

another Garden Gate

opened wide.

The Key

had been

His stricken Side….

From which flowed Water and Blood

upon the earth

from Sacred Wood.

Before the Darkness had been

the light.  

But, it has come back

forever bright.          

 

 

 

 

Before Darkness

Oops
fell
slipped down a dry well
guess this will be quite a story to tell

Soon
see
they’ll come looking for me
help me back up and then Ill be free

woo-hoo
hear
voices are near
wait no, shit it’s just some deer

yoo-hoo
here
come get me dear
im tired and thirsty and need a beer

boo
still here
folks are coming near
its much too late for that I fear

had they come before darkness fell
I wouldn’t have to haunt this well

Poem 3

Chapter 3: Refusal

 

On riverbank,

Side by side, damp from a swim,

I say, “Dream me a dream.”

Words tumbled from the past,

A game we used to play.

 

Some days,

Dreams were the only words he spoke to me,

To anyone.

“That we were free.”

 

“Dream me a dream.”

Tell me the truth of things.

Too old – I could tell that’s what we were.

The dreams were nothing fun,

Just aching sorrows left undone.

The game, broken.

 

 

Up, dressed, on the road.

“I’m leaving.”

Leaving, leaving leaving.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“No, I’m leaving.”

 

Words tumbled from his mouth –

“Not safe…far away…come with me….

He’s hunting people.”

 

I didn’t.

And so, he was gone.

 

Switch

Before darkness
comes the
foreboding crackle

momentary
disorientation giving
way to cursed luck
fate, ill-timed
fortune

there exists briefly
a vacuum knowing
neither light nor absence
of  illumination

there is no good that
comes from channeling
dormant, evolutionary
bat instincts

only stubbed
emotional toes, bruised
psyche shins
leading to the inevitable

frustration of finding
you are completely
out of the right bulb for
the space in which
you currently stand

– Mark L. Lucker
© 2016

When Darkness Falls

I love you forever

I like you for always

As long as I am living

my baby you will be

 

my favorite book to read to my daughter

knowing that one day my love won’t be the love she yearns for

It will be the love she searches for, outside

looking underneath the bed

in dresser drawers

old trunks

kitchen cabinets

everywhere else but within

until she meets the one who will engage her

like the dark knight

stealing her precious belongings

burying them in the backyard

as his own trophy

while she searches

under the bed

in dresser drawers

old trunks

and kitchen cabinets

looking for those parts of herself that she lost

while searching for the love she thought she needed

until she realized all that she needed

was already within herself

before the darkness

Before Darkness – Prompt Three

Bright, infectious illumination
Lighted up our lives
Loud, crashing whispers
Birthed menacing afflicting strife
Seas of contentious dissention
Created a great divide
What once was our life together
Has become a dangerous ride.

Before the darkness descended
We planted and wondrous love grew
Now without sunshine
There’s nothing we can do.

Muse #3: The Goats

Muse #3:  The Goats

Frannie Z

 

1. Anak Kambing (Malaysia)

 

“Anak kambing”

(child of the goat):

tiny white goat

spun around

the kampong.

Until she stopped,

lifted her head

to my hand

and ranged between

my legs

scouting new smells.

 

2. Karachi: Testing and Milk

 

My husband fought

the male goat,

trying his young muscles

as if he were wrestling

with stags

in the ancient rite.

He corralled the female

for milk

to give his cat.

 

3. Becky’s Goat

 

They moved from Chicago

to rural Arizona.

Spring the goat

comes inside

when it’s hot.

She circles the rug

and teases the dog,

To her, a goat

with a growl.

 

4. The Sacrifice

You are a bastard,

but I loved you

because you couldn’t watch

and kept inside

as their goat lives

ended under the knife.

 

You run to women,

butting them

with words

in four languages,

heating them

with your eyes.

 

Some day

you may meet one

who frolics,

then steals away

to sniff new grass.