The Poetry Marathon

African Violet hour 21

African Violet

Compact, low-growing, slow-growing
houseplant with thick, fuzzy leaves and
clusters of petaled flowers that bloom
several times a year.

They can be persnickety if ignored,
love bright, diffused warm conditions
devoid of drafts, yet appreciate a soft
breeze to keep from being stuffy.

They want to be watered regularly but
not too much that their roots rot or
too dry that their leaves shrivel. They
will not wade in water.

Do not get their leaves wet, water
from beneath or plant in a two-stage
pot that holds below the plant. They
will not flower if mistreated.

Their blooms come in pinks, whites,
and several shades of purple that add
drama to your windowsill. Prepare
to be their slave.

When you compare their traits,
they are much like a mother-n-law,
bossy with needs and wants, pesky
for you to jump through hoops,

and even then, they may not perform.
Get a silk plant; they look authentic,
so lifelike, your guests will never guess
it can’t fail to please.

~ J R Turek Hour 21

2023 Full Marathon: Hour 22

There are so many things
I am hoping you’ll realize

as the pages get thinner and

thinner – as you not only near

the end – but feel it so completely

in your soul that this is just

another step along a path you

have been choosing since the

beginning of your story.

But the most important take away

is that wrapping up ideas is almost

never – so rarely ever – as clean and

as tidy and no where near as final as

everyone likes to believe. There is

always somewhere else to go,

something else to say or someone

else left to be. There is always more.

 

-M. Rene’

Prompt 22

Pizza

 

Night of Ninettes

Night of Ninettes

 

run

these words

pages filled

in her journal

another night, up

engrossed in words

forming still

three more

run

 

Night of Ninettes II

 

hours

once many

obstacles

tending time, we

Poets of the night

as we write

over

hours

Hour 16 – OR 16

Scalpel in steady hand
from shoulder to rib you scribe
skin and muscle exposed
to save the young girl's life

Ribs, you must pry apart
steady hands open them wide
exposed will be the heart
its defects you will heed

Repair the hole
tie off the vessel
reverse the order
and bandage her gentle

Chaos Form – Hour 22

I am shadow in the darkness, In its emptiness reborn.

I am absence of all actuality,

Of everything living, I am scorn.

I am the obtainable nothing,

Reality shakes, becomes forlorn.

I am the first born. Embrace my emptiness,

Rejoice in all, be forewarned.

Hour 4

a journey together
her surahi neck
on his shoulder

You Know Me (prompt 21)

running towards something feels better than running away from
but my heart still does not know the difference
much like how anxiety and excitement
cause the same effect

I thought I was running toward you
when I was running from my grief
I’m sorry
that you were caught in the crossfire
you still don’t know that you deserve better

Palm Springs was a place that I ran to
when my life grew too chaotic
it felt better than throwing myself at
an unsuspecting target

when I was younger I ran here too
still in Los Angeles but fighting tooth and nail
to close the chapter and start over again
throw this painting away like all the others

I’m running out of places to hide from myself
tired of hiding from people that seek to see me
believe me I would’ve stopped this if I had seen it coming
you know me love, I’ve always been good at running

Prompt Twenty-one – Captain Haddock Dunning

Hour Twenty-one – Text Prompt

Write a poem that starts and ends with the word running.

 

Captain Haddock Dunning

 

Running a tight ship like he was wont to do,

Barking command till he was blusterly blue.

Poor old Captain Haddock Dunning

The men were lazy bastards all,

They never heeded his shout or call.

Ship stayed moored as Cappy did the running.

 

POEMING (hour xxi)

Running, that motion
Sprint or marathon, scripting
Verses are running

*Inspired by the text prompt