The Poetry Marathon

Farewell Ode

In the beginning, I couldn’t wait to get out
Now that the end is near,
Can’t seem to stop the breaking of my heart.

How did I come to love this place?
I never planned for it to happen.
Tearing, lost and lonely,
I found solace in this empty space.

As I move far away,
And get on with the time.
Trying to make sense,
Of all the questions in my mind…

The hour of farewell has arrived.

I know, you are just a room where I prayed
You gave me strength during pain.
Embraced my being and let me stay.

Now that I’m leaving,
I wonder who will take my place.

If you could speak,
What would you say?
Would you cry because I’m moving away?
Would you stop me in my track?
Would you hold my hand and beg me to stay?

The Perfect Place

Crushed copper scented breath
The final drops drying fast
Early morning mist, kissing my gossamer face
The perfect precipice for soaking in the sights and sounds
of the raging rocky river below
My familiar dark sky starting it’s journey into softness and light
For time eternal I dreamed of this

And then she comes
with golden arms
An embrace I learned to fear; but so missed and desired
Tiny blisters quickly decorate my skin
Toes tingling with anticipation
Arms outstretched
It’s time.

A leap
Falling floating flying
Smiling as I wither and melt
Freedom and Peace
Release

#2 Colorado Canyon

The wind through my hair carries the call of a hawk circling nearly out of sight far above.

Look up at forever.

The sun is bright and hot, but in the canyon shade creates cool seats on the boulders.

Relax, stretch, and feel.

Water streams and gurgles over stones, as small children giggle and shriek stepping in the cold creek

Celebrate play.

Dogs, butts in the air, bark for the joy of smells and sounds.

Give attention to your senses.

Children and dogs chase crayfish and minnows, without catching or caring

Outside exploration is its own reward.

 

2) Tub 2016

ekphrastic

Like everyone else

Don’t worry about the heat,

because everyone feel the same.

 

Move your feet a step in front,

because Pluto is leaving.

 

Rinse your hand dry,

properly,

disinfect it.

Poem 2: Blue Arcs

I learned in English Lit
Water represents rebirth.
But what about skies,
That wisp overhead,
Bleached cotton curtains that
Suffocate the scenery?

I heard in geology the sky comprises
Illusion, gases, and a nitrogen blue
That arcs like Aryan eyes
While cataract clouds
Scuttle.
Plath called it a bell jar
Smudged with
Cloudlike condensation
Or the pants of seven billion
Symbiotes.

Now I am the teacher,
and I know
Humans build near water,
Bracketing the coasts,
Bright and viscous,
Like Florida algae.

Two humans, pale statues,
Frame our view.
Their interpersonal drama propels
The narrative, Aryan arc
While a blue plaid sky
Snaps overhead.
The wind whistles their song,
The sun crisps their soft, beige skin,
The ocean crashes into the margins,
Drowning their violence
And narrative flow.

 

Written in response to Ben Howard’s “I Forget Where We Were” video.

Muse #2: The Cats

Muse #2:  The Cats

by Frannie Z

 

Their names: Angelface and Pierre.

I am not sure if I loved them

because I treasured their humans

or if I treasured the humans

because they belonged to the cats.

 

Angelface would front my legs boldly

then bounce into my lap

where he liked to stay.

Pierre would explore, then rub,

suggesting but not asking

for pats.

 

Petting, pats:

Pierre’s human made the verb

into a related noun.

 

“Wussy” is what his human

styled Angelface.

He wasn’t cowardly,

but didn’t trouble

neighboring cats,

preferring, instead, to claim

food and comfort

without competing.

 

It is the way they both moved-

not like tigers,

more like small trees,

playing out the small shivers

that moved their heads

like friends of light winds-

that fastened me

to their cat lives

and undid me

in their presence.

I could do no more

than watch, bring food

provide pats

 

and offer up human

nonsense words

which in some chemistry

of irony

translated

into what we all navigated

in our disparate brain and sound systems

 

into love.

 

And, like Spock

in the episode

which found him climbing a tree

and touching the face

of a human who loved him,

I made the steps toward

translating, just for a moment,

the rush of pleasure

their presences gave,

 

 

to happy.

 

 

Notes

And the music played through the smoke stack room

The clink and chimes of good times and better days, too

Played chorus to Queen, Aerosmith, and The Doors

Under pressure to get a grip and break on through to the other side

Of that stone cold steel door to the outside

I had no idea the future would come to sit

With me

And speak ever so sweet

With me

And tell me how nice to meet you

Through the softest notes

I have come to know

 

 

Time Spent With You

Time spent with you is so hard,

most often we are not together.

our schedules are busy,

We just sometimes see each other never.

as you go older and me too,

i hope we have this time.

cause your my grown-up little baby,

and you always forever will be mine.

Where Were We?

Disconnect from daily strife

Lull all thoughts into delight

Soothing sounds spinning

Farther away from reality

Twirling and floating into clouds

Elysian Fields, dreams, calming peace

Pathways and visions of contentment

Time slows and drifts away as

Body clock begins to move and sway

To budding spring memories

New creative desires

Playground dance floor

Twirls like a carousel

Underlying beat and style

Improvise ’til the moon rises

The tide ebbs, the highest mountains

Shimmer and gleam their snow-topped peaks

Indigo shadows mottle the forest’s green floor

Magic awaits!

The spirit of chances taken.