The Poetry Marathon

Before Darkness, 3

I was captivated by your light,

You were a lamp unto my feet,

I prayed that it would my heart that you would keep,

Your heartbeat matched with my heartbeat,

But now it seems to skip.

Before darkness, before this sinking ship,

You represented my sunrise.

Now you represent my demise.

Now, not only do my eyes, but it’s my soul that cries.

You pushed me back every time I tried to love you.

Now, I just reminisce about you.

As I reminisce, I would be remised if I didn’t admit to you that you were missed.

You were my beautiful imperfection

You ended up being my misdirection,

My beautiful indiscretion,

And later on a very dark lesson.

If you fall in love with storms, they tear you apart.

Now that we are apart, I can’t shake this empty heart.

Before darkness, I wish I could restart.

Hour 2–Lawrence

Lawrence

haunts me like a ghost welcome to my psyche our home away from homelessness

the beach at Ma’alaea uncivilized

no place for mai tai’s

Rather home to broken things washed ashore

Like families and boogie boards and memories looking for repair

like poets aspiring to acceptance

Lawrence

“Who will stand here with me in the circle

in full testimony to all and hug me? I mean a real hug, full body.”

Faces avoided

Tim declined

As did someone else

I stood

I’ll hug you Lawrence you know I will

The privilege is mine

I moved myself to the center to join him

Opened myself

A small act I felt

his medication coursing coarsing rattling he trembled

his neck hooked mine and we hugged suspended from whatever chemical catastrophe

a life concocted

he trembled

let’s leave his demons out of this

a man once boy asking to be comforted

two hearts nearly touching separated by a prison tattoo

finally calmed

I’m with him still there in the circle

myself restored

 

 

Hour 3 – Prompt 3 – Before darkness

Before darkness, it was dawn’s tune
The sun waved with its bright rays
The gentle breeze whispered in ears
The birds chirped and exulted in joy

Before darkness, the clock struck nine
The streets were bustle with life’s rhythm
The sound of honks spread urgency of time
Summer, rainfall or winter — seasons had a ball

Before darkness, the afternoon rolled in
The hunger pangs reflected life’s basic needs
Every living being portrayed essence of effort
This is what distinguished Earth from other planets

Before darkness, the tinge of evening crept in
Signs of the impending night as sun lost its shine
The birds circled together before they said goodbye
In preparation to embrace the black after the light

Before darkness, life rejoiced and showed the way
Of how life would resume, once darkness bid farewell

When she was alone

When she was in pain
No one understood
When she cried to her sleep
No one was there to console
When she cursed herself
No one held her hand
When she needed friends
No one stood beside her
When she needed support
She didn’t even get that love
Then she rose like a phoenix
Everyone said she didn’t belong to their league.

Sharing from Nina G

Such a joy to put down my my lines, turn on the trolling motor and catch such a plum in the pudding of Nina G!

 

Before Darkness

Before Darkness

 

Before darkness

in those last,

quiet moments

when the sky is pinkest,

there is

a breath

when

winking stars

promise us

we are of them, too:

phosphorus

and

zinc

and

gold –

start dust

and star guts

so that

before the darkness

closes in

we

fill it with

starlight

and

remember where we’ve come from.

(c) R. L. Elke 2016

The End (hour 1)

No huge, tearful goodbye,

Just a fade away without a try

No screaming, yelling, throwing things

Death match of slamming doors

Just a sudden emptiness when I reached for

You and found a vast expanse where

You used to stand, a fuzzy engulfing blur

The movies and books all lied

There doesn’t have to be a goodbye

 

The End

Lue

August 13, 2016

Hour Three: Before the Darkness

Before the Darkness

 

Before the Darkness rides the Maiden

clothed in steel and leather, at her gauntleted wrist

a flash of skin soft and fair

as the flesh of a calla lily.

 

Strike in the day, my love,

and drive the enemy before you;

that all who trudge under the mortal sun

be driven off the edge of the world.

 

We wait, at the edge of night

to be born in your shadow.

Waiting on Wine

My new wine adventures missed me yesterday –

Work interfered with the delivery –

“they” will insist on a 21 year old (or older, much, yes, I am) signature.

The flapping “missed you” notice mocked me fro the door,

frustrating, familiar,

all about timing.

Small town benefit:

delivery man owns franchise

shared his cell number for just this type occasion.

This accommodation amazes,

and though it will not be himself,

the driver will return today.

This evening’s repast will be accompanied

by a robust 2014 California red.

Slainte`

 

Dewdrops

silently the dewdrops

Unwrap

The mirrors of the night sky

Each dewdrop holds a star

They met in the dark

Loved

Merged

Do you see the shine

Is it the dewdrop

The star

Or the love

Shining through

Lighting up the life

Before the sun devours them

After the darkness

They will meet again

Till then you can shine with love.

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