Day 7: Marathon - Moonlight Muses

Rules/guidelines:

- Use this thread to post your poems. Don't post anything other than poems in it please. Only start when the hour starts: Poems posted before or after the hour (PnQ time) won't be counted!

- You can only take one option/time slot.

- You cannot post a poem until 2 OTHERS member have posted before you. Work it out in your clubs what poems you are doing each.
NOTE: If you want to use your simplify lifeline this round, you can use it so that only 1 person has to post before you, so that way the contest will be achievable with 2 people. Obviously though the more people you have the easier/faster it is, (so long as everybody is organised!)

- 1 point per poem (out of 50 points total, bonus points for more than 50 poems) 50pts for average quality, 100pts total (before bonuses)

- Use the 30 or so minutes before to organise who will take what poem and get writing, ready to hit the ground running when the hour starts. Organisation and teamwork is key here.

Once you have done one lap, you start again! Note: Start at prompt 1 and go in order. If you are doing prompt 3, you can't post that until somebody has posted prompt 2.

*Updated times for the challenge (please pick one to use):

Option 1: Sunday, 7.15-8.15 PnQ time
Option 2: Sunday, 15.00-16.00 PnQ time
Option 3 (NEW): Sunday, 19.00-20.00 PnQ time
Option 4: Monday, 19.00-20.00 PnQ time

Prompts/themes: OPTION 3

Themes/topic:
1. Six line poem
2. Birds
3. Poem based on a film title
4. Tanka (syllable 5,7,5,7,7)
5. abab rhyming scheme, 2 or 3 verses
6. Winter
7. Include the word 'Astronaut'
8. Wild card (pick any theme)
9. Dreams
10. About/to a PnQ member
11. Funny/satirical poem
12. 28-30 syllables
13. Medicine

Simplify lifeline please!

Lap 1 prompt 1 six line poem

Eyes glassy as a lonesome soul
cries, alone. Eyes weep red for her
clothes are stained and soaked and she
knows know the true definition of lonely.
Hear her sobs in the middle of the night?
Do you care or do you ignore, walking right on by?

Lap 1: Prompt 2: Birds

We are too far away,
tuning into radios and sound systems
that just weren't meant for us.
But when I dream
without sleep-induced misery,
I fly to you.
You are more indigo than waves
and each ripple of your wing calms
the depression hidden inside me.
We take each other's wing, unable
to move in a different direction,
and keep away the cold breeze.

I feel so close to a new life, with you.

Lap 1 prompt 3 film title (8mile)

Just 8 miles to go until he finally
becomes free of his past, until, he can
move forward and become something, achieve
something, become someone
instead of labouring day after day
for minimum wage and a cranky boss
whom doesn't understand the difficulties
he is facing. Just 8 more miles
until he is free, until he an find
someone worthy of his love, until
he can provide a life for his daughter
stop relying on food stamps and milk tokens
provide for his family and be proud of himself
It's. all. he. ever. wanted.

Lap 1: Prompt 4: Tanka

Love too often gone
when winter picks up its wand-
deflecting compass.
I was canopied by woods
only to know you had passed.

Lap 1 prompt 5 rhyme sceme abab 2/3 verses

Dear Colm, do you know the pressure we are under
to write so many poems in just one hour
please forgive me for my blunders
whilst I hope this poem doesn't leave you sour

For I thought I worked well under pressure
only I guess in truth I do not
Please give me some kind of refresher
instead of leaving me so distraught

Lap 1: Prompt 6: Winter

I keep telling myself, you are in control.
But Winter, why do you always cut me off whenever
I ask to befriend you? My eyes aren't like your skies
you know...they are of brushed nettles, soft forest
grounds, perfumed pine trees, the color of soil.

You've never been affected by my chocolate brown eyes

For you are like raw flesh, making my eyes cringe
and my skin sweat out of the intensity of the gaze
that is far too Alaskan for my liking.

I have mumbled stories to you, Winter, on nights
when you withheld the shivers and I could draft out
my dreams for you...

So please, step away from this iciness, bring me
more than snow, and let me hear the words from
that you are so starved for warmth.

Lap 1 prompt 7 include the word astronaut

Four guys one girl is how it begun
all five looking for innocent fun
dating, frindship and arguments galore
yet always with such a lovely rapport
until one of them chased his childhood dream
now in the group dynamic he's reigning supreme
forgetting about humility and kindness he was taught
now he has become the groups first astronaut

*based on the big bang theory tv show*

Lap 1: Prompt 8: Wild Card: Theme I picked- poem to a skateboard

Dear skateboard,

There are no summers without you.
Your orange wheels are a zesty addition to my
wild imagination, and you are the act finally pushing
me away from any doubt I had that I'm not strong enough.
I can ride to operas, tattoo shops, mountains, caves,
anywhere....and you will never run out of breath.
Your wheels carry my heart in a smooth way my tears
could never do.

I become more of a person when I'm around you.

Lap 1 prompt 9 Dreams

Innocent eyes shadowed by hope,
aspiration and hearts full of innocence
that only a small child can muster
searching incessantly for that eluding
dream of theirs.
Knowing they'll make it, that the tears
pain and worry will be worth it, that they will
succeed.
Children.
Making dreams possible.

Lap 1: Prompt 10: About/to a PnQ member (to Jenni Marie)

You provide the lined paper and I am the pen,
anything and everything we could ever want to be.
We are two kids on a see-saw, one without the other
could not have a good time.
We listen to Eminem as if we are legit hipsters,
pulling on our silver hoodies and making the moon
come out and dance with us.

Nothing can stop us now.

We are word demons, rhyming prodigies,
music fanatics, our taste is just too good to be true.
if it wasn't for you I would be a lonely soul without
any chance to do a speed round with and
without any hopes that I could ever be inspired.

Lap 1 prompt 11 funny/satirical

I learned from a two year old, never leave
them unattended. If it's too quiet it's because
they're doing something they shouldn't be.
If you can't hear them it's because
they're rooting through the things they are
not allowed near.
I learnt not to give them leeway for
they will use it against you and most
certainly will remind you of the times
you previously let their misgivings go.
I learnt not to give food or drinks
that stain. And I learned that a two year
old, will always get away with wrongdoings
with a cute smile, innocent laugh and a tender
I love you.

Lap 1: Prompt 12: 28- 30 syllables

I'm not fearless when I have just
poured my confusions out to you on
an abandoned shelf
--- the approach of twilight ---

Lap 1, prompt 13 medicine

Happy pills, tension pills, pain killers
guess they are all related
whereas my own happy anxiety pills
leave my ego somewhat inflated
guess I should thanky my doctor
for constantly prescribing
I'm sure those on them will know what I'm describing
so thank you scientists, doctors and nurses alike
and whatever you do, please do not go on strike!

Lap 2: Prompt 1: Six line poem

Wishing I could be the truth of you
for whom am I but a question mark never
showing signs of ending its ink?
You taught me to seize life with gentleness
and readiness, never letting the deaths
of this world trap us in self-demise.

Lap 2 prompt 2 birds (Haiku)

birds twitter, singing
responding to each other
beautiful music

Lap 2: Prompt 3: Poem based on a film title
Film Title: Titanic

She often clinks wine glasses together,
reminding herself the tiny, high-pitched noises
are her only distraction from reality.
She would much like to believe death would be better-
but she is without love, blossoming without
a tenderness she can share.
At the sun's setting, her legs bolt from the table,
onto the main deck, where her heart mounts itself
on the railing of the massive ship.

And there, she's meets her destiny,
in the form of a man's hand who will be her
only life.

Lap 2 prompt 4 tanka

If only you could
see, what your ignorance is
tardily doing
to me; you'd know why I can
not move on nor forgive you

Lap 2: Prompt 5: abab rhyming scheme, 2 or 3 verses

There is a sunlight people here only talk about,
never taking faith in it for all they see is gray.
Fields plentiful yet lacking from many a drought,
the desire for this yellow orb is long at bay.

The faces need color from cowering in corners,
smiles too are looking for more than hope.
On the outside these people live like mourners,
when all their hearts are sliding on a lost slope.

Lap 2 prompt 6 winter

Snow freezes, as rain ceases
to fall. Children become
over excited, despite the
teachings of the origin of
Christmas. Whilst snow begins
to fall once more and the ice
slowly melts, winter strugggles
on, fighting the coming
of Spring.

Lap 2: Prompt 7: Include the word "Astronaut"

My dreams were fixed up like a knot,
yet your strong hands untangled the insecurity
within my bloodstream.

You were ready for me to journey with you.
I was the dream and you were the astronaut
who could truly ignite them into space.

Lap 2 prompt 8 wildcard (six line poem)

Soul as cold as ice, eyes as hot as fire
from evil and suffering he shall never retire
Have you met him? all he does is everything atrocious
surely you've never met anyone so ferocious
he's the number one for being an evil rebel
say hello to your very own devil

Lap 2: Prompt 9: Dreams

I often wonder when artists write songs,
if they embed their whole life story in those
little syllables and tightly wound stanzas.
Those could be my stories, my dreams too.
the optimist in me would like to think
that my dreams can be more than sung into
a microphone on stage... I can be the
one living them out.

Lap 2 prompt 10 aboout/to a PQ member (Mary Anne)

Only recently we got to know one another
though I'm not sure why it took quite so long
'cause it makes me amazed and proud to say
we were both quite similar all along

Intelligent and funny
with such a heart of gold
and I'm honoured to be here
to watch your lifestory unfold

And though our frinedship is just online
know that I will always be here
and you loveable personality
has always left me rather endeared

Lap 2: Prompt 11: Funny/satirical poem

A father once asked a boy what his greatest
aspiration was to be.
The boy replied, "a medical surgeon, preferably
on peoples' knees..."
The father, stunned at his boy's desire and
proud to the point of tears, replied, "but why?"
The boy simply looked up and said,
"it'd be cool, I like the way the knee works and moves."
The father, thinking there would be an emotional
response or some sort of revelation just laughed and said,
"Oh. I understand now!"

Lap 2 prompt 12 28-30 syllables

I'm glad this is almost over
as it was more stressful than I
originally thought
so thank you for the contest
even though you'll never know
the stress that it brought!

*edit. damn. Think I missed that by seconds haha.