May 2020 Poetry Challenge - Are You In?

Ms. Haiku
Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
in Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
I thought of this today, which is why I'm late to the April-Poetry Month celebration. Who is up for a month of writing? Onward to May 2020 :)
There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
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  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    Ms Haiku,
    I’m in. This is a good idea. Something creative to do during this social distancing isolation!
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  • vogonpoetbythelake
    vogonpoetbythelake Posts: 2,146
    I keep checking on this thread...come on May...as for me haven't ever had the discipline but enjoy and miss the poetry you gals have shared over the years...hope you will post daily! =)
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    1 May 2020

    I'll wait to hear my accomplishments 
    instead of expecting them at my funeral. 
    This life is stretched taffy, pliable,
    playful and suck-worthy delicious. 

    Wading in my thoughts are second 
    guesses without law as I am 
    a follower of no leader. Grounded, 
    my greatest payment is returning 
    from the poisoned water of heartbreak. 
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • vogonpoetbythelake
    vogonpoetbythelake Posts: 2,146
    This life is stretched taffy, pliable, playful
    and suck-worthy delicious.
    Love it!  Thanks for sharing!
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    2 May 2020

    The long drawal of a car 
    breaks this Saturday afternoon.
    The cardinals exhale sunshine 
    as I remain indoors.

    There is conversation blight 
    as if we, the humans strapped down
    our tongues and cornered small-talk
    with loaded fear. We know why there is fear.
    It is 2020, a year steeping inflamed.
    I envy the afternoon train its call.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415

    Ms Haiku, I'll put mine in this thread too.


    May 2nd

    Like lettuce leaves tossed

    today’s been a bit mixed

    coffee and music lessons betwixt

    Face Time, Skype and Teams

    cats on my feet or crossing the screens

    at least we can meet

    at least they can learn

    that’s a blessing these days

    out the window, the mowers are busy

    the men in the yards up and down the block

    their lawns have rarely looked this good!

    after lunch, I gather my courage 

    I don my mask to pick up supplies

    while at the store, I see 2 distinct groups

    the concerned people with covered faces

    and the killers 

    the risk-everyone-elsers

    is that too harsh?

    as of today, there are over 60,000 dead

    it’s too much for the dummy to wear a mask at the store?

    but I don’t want to hang onto the anger… 

    I came home with the groceries

    and took a nap with the cats


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  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    3 May 2020

    Freedom is stilled speed, empty like ice,
    holding pain like another's unheard gasp.
    Curiosity is released. Someone else's shadow is lighted. 

    The longest fingers of trees cut through the earth, push up sidewalks 
    and touch the sun. We miss that when flying as we would unclasp the push up
    to morning and its fanning brilliance. 

    Maybe wings only choose yes and no, and we fly hugged
    in overcoats anchored by pocket watches. Bounded in
    our pain slowly clicks away.


    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    May 3, 2020

    Working at the house
    I'm climbing that mountain of papers at the end of the semester
    grading, grading, grading...
    it means sitting by the screen in a chair!
    hardly moving, discomfort, tingling impatience, hours at a time
    as a child I was a fidgeter 
    picture the adult, squirming to stay put
    by afternoon, I need to get out and move
    rain or no rain,
    I'm going out!
    bright blue polka dot umbrella in hand
    I'm walking on our country road
    the friendly creeks and flowers jostle me, they wake me up
    mist on the hillside, grey drizzle
    now I feel calm
    legs moving, I feel at home

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  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    edited May 2020
    May 4th

    Some thoughts about memory

    Anytime beyond this moment is a memory. That’s the truth of it.  We remember yesterday, we remember last week, we remember last month.  If we have a good memory, we can remember far back in time…

    Some days and times get caught in photos or on video, and they seem a bit more real because we can see them captured.  In our minds, we have some memories like tapes, but they are less reliable.  Vivid, joyous, painful, searing memories seem to last longer than mundane days.  This is just the way it is.

    Shared memories can last longer.  A spouse or an old friend can be an extra memory bank: “Do you remember when we went to…?”  “Who was that person we met that time?”  A spouse’s memory may be as inaccurate as your own, or it may be better.  People we’ve known a long time can support our memories and supplement them too.

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  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    4 May 2020

    AJA sidestrokes over the grounded pile of books and weaves
    towards an open window. The wind picks up with the piano.
    The voices become the heels clicked three times,
    as the leaves shake. The song jumps up
    into drums and saxophone as the branches rock
    in quarter-circles. They push the wind across
    my table, but Steely Dan meets it at the frame.
    Both sides shush before the next rush
    of gossip and lullabies.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    5 May 2020

    A maze of numbers structured like uniformed soldiers
    display a cultural truth. They can't be spies,
    yet, in theory regal as an absolute truth.
    Digits are tossed against possibilities
    and snuffed into the carpet bag
    of the Fool.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    justam said:
    May 4th

    Some thoughts about memory

    Anytime beyond this moment is a memory. That’s the truth of it.  We remember yesterday, we remember last week, we remember last month.  If we have a good memory, we can remember far back in time…


    I've enjoyed all the poems in this thread, but this one especially
  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    Ms. Haiku,   I like the poems you have posted so far! 

    May 5, 2020

    I think the animals enjoy the stay-at-home orders most
    at all hours, we are near
    the only thing they probably miss is the "goodbye" treat ritual
    the clowder has adapted to the change
    they've been strutting, tails held high
    or lounging belly up in ecstasy
    even racing up and down the stairs!
    they follow me from room to room 
    my four furry companions
     

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  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    rollings said:
    justam said:
    May 4th

    Some thoughts about memory

    Anytime beyond this moment is a memory. That’s the truth of it.  We remember yesterday, we remember last week, we remember last month.  If we have a good memory, we can remember far back in time…


    I've enjoyed all the poems in this thread, but this one especially
    Thanks rollings
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  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415

    May 6th

    I turn off the orange man's press show
    as uncouth and unclean as a peep-show huckster
    he brags and lies and spreads disease
    revolting emissions fly out of his bullhorn throat
    "You could try bleach, maybe it'll work"
    "This will all just fade away...I have a good feeling about this..."
    the evil leader is all about hiding the truth, the vandalization of facts
    and the dominance of greed and corruption
    I can't watch it!
    he's not speaking to me
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  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    6 May 2020

    Hope lasts many years even if I sit on it. It bounces in emerald
    like an exercise ball, and rolls away quick after a kick.

    Abandoned hope hurts my hands with paper welts and loud noises
    that shock like the black veil of a stroke.

    Hope blooms healed strobes in hallways before unbolted doors.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    Ms. Haiku said:
    6 May 2020

    Hope lasts many years even if I sit on it. It bounces in emerald
    like an exercise ball, and rolls away quick after a kick.

    Abandoned hope hurts my hands with paper welts and loud noises
    that shock like the black veil of a stroke.

    Hope blooms healed strobes in hallways before unbolted doors.
    You have gotten scary good at this 
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,371
    Thank you, rollings. :)

    7 May 2020

    Life is moments split between image-worthy and valueless. We remember the stories told in photo albums organized in the correct order. The picture of the first steps before the prom photos. 

    I have photo albums in a cardboard box routinely used by the recently laid-off. I remember the life, but I haven't seen the pictures in over 15 years; the Grand Canyon layers, the bushes of flowers in front of a Seattle library. The mirrors of my industry announcing I was there, or at least, places did exist.

    When I throw the photo albums away the air at the Grand Canyon will lighten, and the roses in Seattle will boomerang up with the removed weight of my temporary awareness. The time of my life no one need to know will be a possible truth, only, when I am acknowledged in past-tense.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • rollings
    rollings unknown Posts: 7,127
    wow. seiously. and also 

    I have photo albums in a cardboard box routinely used by the recently laid-off. 

    LOL!

  • justam
    justam Posts: 21,415
    May 7,

    There have been moments in my life when women surprise me by imitating something I’ve done. These instances have come up sometimes when I’m just living my life, trying to get by, unaware of them.

    One odd example was the piano student (years ago) who out of the blue decided to have a baby because I did.  Or, the friend who within weeks remodeled her kitchen and yard because I’d changed mine.  Then there was the time that a work colleague changed her hair to be like mine after I had radically chopped off my long hair.  None of these things were done with them in mind but I couldn’t help noticing that they were following me and this bewildered me...
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