The Poetry Marathon

Life

“Do you feel confused, uprooted, at a loss-almost depressed but not quite?”

Sure always

Doesn’t everybody?

We play this game called life

You know-

Job, family, home

Creative frustration

Walking a fine line between

healthy and dead.

It’s a bad juggling act at an empty circus

 

Confused? Sure. No one told me

Most of what I should know

I found out the hard way

Once I figured it out

I find out I’m wrong

 

Been uprooted like trees after a tornado

Happened so many times

I can stand upside down

 

Lost? Never been found

 

And depression?

We dated for years

Depression is that bad relationship

That won’t give me back my key

 

Yes- life- good times there

Headaches, bosses

Dishes and unmatched silverware

Frolicking in laundry and car repair

 

Lucky I made it this far

Haven’t slit my wrists

or driven off a cliff

 

The body holds and the laundry piles up

Money problems and bouncing cell phones

Take your pills and water the plants

Feed the cat and mash the potatoes.

It’s all there.

Like a found wallet

You gotta look inside.

You hope for riches

You end up with dimes.

 

 

(First line taken from Finding your Way Home by Melody Beattie)

 

 

off to bed

color blasts of swirling stars

        deeper into the depths of unconsciousness

                    to a inky blackness of nothingness broken by

                           a voice from long ago, a scene reenacted over and

                                       over from a time when a small child would hide in

                                               closets from strange sounding women with high button shoes

 

Complete

I am looking out the window

Glad to see that morning has come

And the writing of poems will cease

As I slumber heavily on my pillow

 

The time has been enjoyable

And excruciating- as occasionally

Time ticked by so quickly

And others, tocked about aimlessly

 

I will do this again

Thankful for an exceptional experience

And conversations with like minds

And kindred spirits

 

All Poem’d Out

I have been awake for more hours than I can count on both hands, twice

What little sleep I got, wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for

I wanted the…”my head hit the pillow and I was passed out in less than 2.1 seconds”

but instead

I laid there, with my eyes closed, listening to the poems trying to write myself in my head

Like needy children, crowding me, demanding to be heard

I wanted to give them all attention,

I wanted to write all of those words and send them off into the world

But instead, their buzz, the sound of them flying around

was the lullaby

that finally put me to sleep

 

 

Twenty third poem

False praise, who am I?
Not enough, wanting, shut up
Failed my heart, I suck

Can’t Breathe

The emotion in which I felt as you sat beside me,

stroking my hand and speaking of our first times.

How I would smile and nod, reminiscing of us,

beloved heart of mine, whom I felt was running.

How the small dark fist of doubt lodged firmly,

Impossible to loosen as it unfurled, choking

away whatever hope lingered as your eyes

gazed at mine. And I knew this was it, the end,

we would have no happy ending my beloved one,

and then you slipped to one knee before me,

and something within me let loose.

Finally, my hope and doubt were free.

Dream Depth Dribblings

A new record! I am
writing with my eyes shut.

Inspiration, what time do you call this?
Soon I will be rising before the
sparrows,

or writing poems in my sleep;
dream-depth dribblings will be
scrawled on a page that can’t
be read with waking eyes.

But now sleeping and waking are
becoming ever more alike –

my writing resembles my dreams;
and dreams decorate my days.

Believe

Challenge your mind
Be kind
Learn to
Believe
When you release
Self-doubt
Love turns the corner
And
It shows
What you’re about
Dig deep
Find this
Belief
Inside you
Cause
I just
Found it
Felt it
And
I am going to possess it
It is the hardest word
When it comes to
Thy- self
And trusting
The truth
Within your own core
It’s the steps
Taken
Not the ones’
Forgotten
Leave me alone and
Trudge along
To a brighter future
And leave the past mistakes
Where they belong
In the shadow’s
Love is the light
And you own it
Love it when you
Experience
For the first time
You will shine
In the night
With glowing lights

Champagne Anyone

I celebrate

Completion

Companionship

Heroics

Lyrics

Everyone

Known

Unknown

Foxes

Dogs

Turtles

Butterflies

Transcendence

Hope

Love

Excitement

Satisfaction

Grace

Fellows

Sisters

Alpha

Omega

Reflections

Joys

Gratitude

Memories

Family

Friendship

Hurrah

Hallelujah

Amen

 

 

Sleep

waking up for routine of the day

doing all jobs and all necessary matters to accomplish everything

reaching into its peaking point

feeling tired and weary

an invitation to slumber

a bed so inviting

a sleeper weary and tired entered to sleep mode

fast asleep

 

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