May 2020 Poetry Challenge - Are You In?


The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
Comments
-
Ms Haiku,
I’m in. This is a good idea. Something creative to do during this social distancing isolation!&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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!0
-
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 Mockingbird0 -
This life is stretched taffy, pliable, playful
and suck-worthy delicious.
Love it! Thanks for sharing!0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
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
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
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
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
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…
0 -
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
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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…
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
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.0 -
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 Mockingbird0 -
wow. seiously. and alsoI have photo albums in a cardboard box routinely used by the recently laid-off.
LOL!
0 -
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...&&&&&&&&&&&&&&0
Categories
- All Categories
- 148.8K Pearl Jam's Music and Activism
- 110K The Porch
- 274 Vitalogy
- 35K Given To Fly (live)
- 3.5K Words and Music...Communication
- 39.1K Flea Market
- 39.1K Lost Dogs
- 58.7K Not Pearl Jam's Music
- 10.6K Musicians and Gearheads
- 29.1K Other Music
- 17.8K Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
- 1.1K The Art Wall
- 56.7K Non-Pearl Jam Discussion
- 22.2K A Moving Train
- 31.7K All Encompassing Trip
- 2.9K Technical Stuff and Help