At 60, my list is shorter
Strength
gentleness
balance
meditation
creativity
walking/hiking
poems and
more poems
Ten Little Words
(apologies to Clement Clark Moore)
Beet, jacket tremor bayou elbow lightbulb cinnamon bucket elk carport
Twas the night before harvest
When all through the bayou
Not one elk was a’stirin, not one little boo
The carport was lit by a single lightbulb
in the hopes that someone got home from the pub
The beet was all nestled in the jacket elbow
While cinnamon buns rose from the dough.
When out in the paddock there came such a tremor
I ran to the door holding my hammer.
What’s Left?
Image Prompt by Martin Torrez
( With apologies to Louis Carol)
“The time has come” the Walrus said
To talk of many things:
Of Wills—Estates —and who gets what—
And why there are no blinds-
And whether there’s hereafter.
*************************************
What does one leave in the winter of life?
Who are the friends who make up this life?
When is it time to leave…. ‘A well lived life?’
Where will I spend the last days of my life?
Why is it so complicated to leave this life?
How we can leave with ‘Dying With Dignity?’
A Prayer on Being Humble
Dear God,
Thanks for listening, first of all,
since next to you I feel so small,
but great at the same time,
as I seek to be in tune
with you.
Yes, you. You are pretty cool,
my Lord. And savior, yes, but
not as prescribed by the fool
in need of shedding his own debt.
Thank you.
Every day, I thank you as we speak
together on the mundane things,
and I forget that I am to be meek.
In response to what a stranger brings:
It’s true…
Thank you, Lord, for a mind
that brings me perseverance.
Thank you for the ethic to find
time to study, try, learn, and advance.
So few,
Lord, are willing to listen,
and instead pretend to love you
by not loving themselves within.
You didn’t say “to thine own self be true,”
So true!
The ethic to work and to earn
is a gift from you, Lord,
because you have helped me learn
so that I can afford
being true
to this vessel you built for my soul.
Thank you, sweet friend!
To love you more is my goal,
and love me more till the end.
Forever
Ten years in the past
Young people in school
Fell in lust for each other
But how could it last?
The years quickly past
With studies and work.
The birth of two children
Sometimes they clashed.
A new home in the Fort
New jobs for them both.
Children in school
They started to court.
With each falling-out
And each making-up
A bond they created
Without a knock-out.
With a Rose gold ring
They made big plans,
To show the world
“This is not just a fling.”
.
C’est la Vie
I’d love to tell you, we did it!
I’d love to tell you, we finished.
These past few years, haven’t been quite the same.
These past few years, we hardly get through it.
Am I unfocused?
Did I get distracted?
Yes, I suppose.
Pulled in too many directions.
It’s hard being a mother.
C’est la vie.
It’s hard sacrificing your wants.
Your needs.
For another.
C’est la vie.
This is the life you chose.
You can’t shake the blame.
Now get up and pull yourself together.
There’s no need to pout.
After-all, there will always be another.
C’est. La. Vie.
(Congrats to all who successfully completed the marathon 🥰)
My World is Getting Smaller
Image Prompt by Frank Ching
My world is getting smaller
My patch, stitched down
Wings now clipped
Walls closing in
Eyes dimming
Colours fading in the light
Now how fast or slow
‘Till
My fingers feel for
Silk, and sand
Seeing nubs of Brail.
Announcing the Finishers of the 2023 Poetry Marathon
Dear Poets,
Here’s our initial list of everyone who successfully finished the 2023 Poetry Marathon. These poets wrote 24 poems in 24 hours. Congratulations to everyone who achieved this incredible challenge! You are amazing!
Please note: This list contains errors. We need your help to correct those errors. If your name is in the wrong list, or missing, when it should be there, please let me know by email poets@thepoetrymarathon.com. Any error was in no way intentional. There are so many participants, it is very difficult to create an accurate list. Your help with correcting any errors is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who participated this year!
You can see the finishers of the half marathon here.
When you are ready, you are very much encouraged to comment on the many wonderful poems written during the marathon by these wonderful poets. — Jacob
Announcing the Finishers of the 2023 Poetry Half Marathon
Dear Poets,
Here’s our initial list of everyone who successfully finished the 2023 Poetry Half Marathon. These poets wrote 12 poems in 12 hours. Congratulations to everyone who achieved this challenge!
Please note: This list contains errors. We need your help to correct those errors. If your name is in the wrong list, or missing, when it should be there, please let me know by email poets@thepoetrymarathon.com. Any error was in no way intentional. There are so many participants, it is very difficult to create an accurate list. Your help with correcting any errors is greatly appreciated.
You can see the finishers of the full marathon here.
Thank you to everyone who participated this year!
When you are ready, you are very much encouraged to comment on these amazing poets’ work. — Jacob
The River (24 hour)
From the east to west the River crawls
Connecting the south and north
Making life liveable, enduring
Living endearing
Without the River, life dies
Without it, life ceases
This River, this Hope, like a rope
Connects hopes