Challenging myself

[Mardrax]

So right. I've decided to take up this challenge as a way to get out of my "I should write more" cycle of remarking that, but not following up. Also, it's a step in my admittedly ambitious plan to get myself to obey some discipline, instead of always balking at it.

 

So what challenge is this? Some of you might have seen it floating around. I'll be trying to write a single poem every day, each to a different theme, for 100 days. At that rate, I should be finished in late juli. Let's see if I can keep this up. Feedback and comments are absolutely welcome in between my own stuff. Here goes:

 

~~~~~

Theme 1: Introduction

 

First Coming

 

two wolves pulled you

your car standing there

hood open, trunk crammed

a traveler in body

 

I wasn't just seeing

where you were going

where we were going

since I travelled too

 

and that first awkward second

hug of first impressions

quick, glancing, tentative

summarised our not knowing

 

what to do

until the wolf

brought the Moon down

 

down out of sight

but never out of mind.

[Snypiuer]

A worthy goal!

 

As you know, I am not good at critiquing.

 

But, I WILL do this to help you out:

 

I, Snypiuer, WILL award Mardrax ONE FREE MIGHTY PEN T-SHIRT (of one of these sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL) if he posts a MINIMUM of 1 original poem a day for 100 CONSECUTIVE days.

How's THAT for incentive?!

 

In fact, not only is Mardrax GUARANTEED a shirt IF he succeeds:

 

I, Snypiuer, will award TWO MORE FREE MIGHTY PEN T-SHIRTS (of one of these sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL) to two other Pennites if they are able to posts a MINIMUM of 1 original poem a day for 100 CONSECUTIVE days - these will go to the FIRST two to do this and if more than two qualify, winners will be randomly picked from all who do qualify. Also, IF Mardrax is unable to finish, his shirt will be made available for a third Pennite to try for.

Any questions, let me know and GOOD LUCK!

[Mardrax]

Lol Snypiuer, quick response there. Stop biscuiting about your commenting skills though, you've anything at all to offer, I'll accept it gladly.

And yay for some extra incentive. Let's see what we can make of this.

 

~~~~~

 

Theme 2: Love (To have this exfenetrated)

 

It might be good, but it's a bit cookie dough

 

You know

 

That hard, cold exterior

You so proudly boast

Hiding that doughy inside

Was meant to be warmed

Yet it's utterly frozen

 

When we met, I expected

More darkness inside you

You promised me this

What bits there were, dough

coated and all, complimented

 

Your vanilla make-up blend

Too simple for the tastes

Of most, some claim

I would have, myself

Had I not eaten you out

So many wonderful times

 

So every time we lay,

Spoons in firm embrace

And have our insides meet

I thank your creators

 

Mister B and Mister J,

Truly

I love you.

Edited April 16, 2011 by Mardrax

[The Portrait of Zool]

WOW - great challenge - and great poems! A worthy goal and prize as well.

 

I would myself, but I know for a fact I'm going to have at least two weeks this summer where I will be incommuno-internet in addition to my other obligations and general inabilities.

 

Don't be fooled though - I'm always looking in and looking forward to the time when Zool can RETURN!

 

 

Carry on...

[Mardrax]

Oh how we long for that day Zool.

Still, realise that writing every day doesn't necessarily mean posting every day. You can save up in the days without a net connection.

 

~~~~~~

 

Theme 3: Light (working through the basics here)

 

Fuzzy

 

Something about fuzz

Because even the memory

Has been trying

 

At times, growing hairy

Since everything fuzzy does

-Everything alive-

Eventually

 

Still, the feeling's the same

With the sun's fuzzy rays

Filtered through a curtain

Of early sunday morning

 

And while I'd still pledge my smile

To wake you up every time

This precious, fuzzy gem

-We still keep close to us

'Tween my hand and your belly-

Is all we'll ever need

 

So let's make light of it.

Edited April 17, 2011 by Mardrax

[Mardrax]

Theme 4: Dark (Figures, doesn't it?)

 

Face to void

 

So long ago, that I sat there

Too long, since I had anywhere

To sit there, just sit there

And utter my way of a prayer.

 

With or without moon

The wind would sing its croon

While my thoughts were just strewn

As I let them go, this I swear

 

The waves lapped at my feet

Come rain, storm or sleet

On the pier, my retreat

Where I would so often repair.

 

But always, those new year's

As I would switch back gears

Make good on my arrears

As fireworks lit up the air

 

Always it was me

Always the darkness

Face to void.

[Snypiuer]

You're right!

 

I didn't even think about not having Net connection!

 

100 Poems WITHIN 100 days!

 

By the way, GREAT stuff so far!

[Mardrax]

Theme 5: Rot

 

Time, flies

 

You sit there

mocking me

emphasising my point:

 

Time, I need

more of it, always.

 

While she sits there

Waiting for me

To prepare some of you

Underlining the fact

 

That while I feel bad

You just go it

While time slips from me

It just passes for you

Still, dear dinner

We both grow old,

white and hairy.

[James Crow]

I like the work you have done so far and the idea. 1 poem a day for 100 days to teach discipline. I think that I will join you, might be easier with a friend. Although due to work I must start tomorrow. See you then and keep up the great work.

[Mardrax]

I look forward to having a partner in crime James.

To continue, a short one, but full enough:

 

Theme 6: Break

 

The Camel's Back

 

Stuff rained down in disarray

As You Bastard's calculations

Thought to seek what it might weigh

Since he felt the sensations

Of that final strand of hay

And sank through his foundations

 

Queen Ptraci walked away

To pursue her obligations

Took her things without parley

To see missed destinations

And left You Bastard an array

Of baseless allegations

Edited April 20, 2011 by Mardrax

[Appy]

*hugs Mardrax* That bad huh? Doing wel on the posting though *'nother hug just because she can*

[Mardrax]

*returns the hug heartily* Yesterday, I would have said "worse". Now, I say "I just woke up, just hug me and hush!" ;p

Naw. I really don't know. Feel iffy, but clean. Done my things. Nothing more I can do.

 

~~~~~

Theme 7: Heaven (it rhymes, you know. And *yay!* one week down)

 

So should I pray to Him?

 

That last moment of sitting there

Just sitting there, and talking

Silly little pets in balls, adorable

Through the hurt, the anguish

The mutual differences aside

Life's insecurities rolled past

That's where my mind stays

In purgatory, the wretched must wait

 

You telling me "I don't know

When I'm leaving, or be back

It all depends on Him now

I cannot know His ways"

Yet I know the old Lord

Has never been a kind one

 

And like a true passing, you went

Without a proper chance for goodbye

To return to your lost loved ones

And I'm left here, disillusioned

At least, I know that from this Heaven

You'll one day return

 

Yet I don't know if I should wish this upon you.

Edited April 21, 2011 by Mardrax

[Snypiuer]

ONLY A WEEK?!

 

I'm starting to think that after 100 of your poems, I'm just going to want to see MORE!

 

Yeah, Snypiuer IS a selfish individual that, once he finds something he enjoys, just GORGES himself with no regard for the feelings or well-being of others!

 

It's NOT Snypiuers' fault YOU write so well!

 

Just to be clear, I like what you have written!

[Mardrax]

Don't worry, you'll see more. I haven't been around this long to disappear after reaching an arbitrarily set ammount of postings in an arbitrarily set timeframe

 

Hardest part of this challenge so far: I want to rush through it. If I didn't hold myself back, I'd be done by tomorrow evening. Good stuff.

[Mardrax]

Alrighty. New day (past midnight, yo!)

 

Theme 8: Away

 

The hole of you

 

I walked into the room that day

Opened the door, prepared to be pounced

And stood there, waiting for nothing

I sighed in resignation as I saw

Your spot on the couch, the table

Void of any sign of your presence

My nostrils flared, smelled the wolf

But she too was gone

 

I fell on the couch, a sigh of relief

Finally some peace and quiet

Both of us needed it

But it panged, anyway

The loss of you tore at my core

Weird. Few things, few people have

 

And it is with that hole in my being

I walk around today, trying to fill it up

With friends, and hellish lot of noise

Yet the silly DJ killed the power

But the friends, they're there

And miss Neutrality on her way

Mes amies: je t'adore.

[Mardrax]

It's been some time coming, but I've been awesomely busy today. Here's a can't-set-my-mind-haiku.

 

Theme 9: Cut

 

Pain pays?

 

Her legs a' pumping

Bloody streamlets running down

Attention unpaid

[Mardrax]

Theme 10: Breathe

 

Cycle

 

Inhale

Let me tear myself apart

To get a little room inside

Help me clear out all the crap

So I can breathe

 

Exhale

Get it all out of my chest

So I don't have to keep it down

And slowly choke myself

'Cause I can't breathe

 

Inhale

Focussing on that deep breath

Since I don't really have a choice

But to get clean air inside

And suck it up

Edited April 24, 2011 by Mardrax

[Mardrax]

Theme 11: Memory

 

Panopticon

 

An angry white guy

Yammering into my ears

Incessant, obnoxiously

As if he had something

To prove to me then

 

Messages of 'make it

Or die trying' filled me

Exchanged for blood

Gore, guts and sexuality

 

Two worlds so different

And which was I in?

None. Never was.

Stuck in the middle

Caught in between

 

Nowhere to belong

Yet everywhere to go

The only memento I hold

Dear.

[Mardrax]

Theme 12: Insanity

 

You Can Watch

 

Some would call it deviant

Locking oneself from the world

Keep it there long enough

And most would step it up

A notch or two

On the wall of aggravations

Bearing its marks of long

Imprisonment within it

A colourful world

Yet so utterly alone

So quiet, peaceful

That no one, ever

Could set a foot inside

But me.

 

This retreat? Mine.

My wall, my chalks.

And you're not playing with them.

In a million years.

 

But you? You can watch.

[Mardrax]

Theme 13: Misfortune

 

Inner Locus

 

The thought sometimes hits me

Whenever someone says "Really

what're the odds of this happening

to of all people, me?"

That really, you contruct the odds

And what you call misfortune

Another will call karma, or simply

Cause and effect.

And sometimes, I'll shrug it off

While others, I'll bite into it

-Like a dog chewing a favourite bone

To suck out the sweet marrow inside

And crush it 'tween my jaws-

Savouring the concept of taking

Responsibility for my actions

Rather than having them depend

On some omnipotent outside force

Outside my reach, my understanding

And tell myself "God, that sucks,

But really mate, unconditionally,

it's your own damned fault."

Edited April 27, 2011 by Mardrax

[Mardrax]

Theme 14: Smile. Week two down! Getting hard to consistently do this, with situations not going my way, me generally feeling like crap and being fairly helpless to stop it. Still, persisting.

 

 

Every thought of you

Every sight of you

Every word from you

That ever passed through my ears

Used to elicit smiles, at least inside

 

Now though, it seems I've forgotten

 

And most thoughts of you

Most words from you

-Since sights are never there-

Fill me with a certain unpleasant

Flavour of despair, of helplessness

 

While still, in my heart of hearts

I see you, hear you, think of you

And think "yes dear, I still love you

But oh the pain it costs me."

And inwardly still, I laugh.

[Mardrax]

Theme 15: Silence

 

The wind whispers

 

My house rings loudly

It reverbrates with the lingering echoes

Of all those things you've set atremble

And left to ring out in your wake

 

Through glaring absence, you call me

Things I rather needn't face or hear

Chasing me around, yet never behind me

In that absence of you, I falter

 

And now, even I'm gone

Leaving the Thumper to its on devices

Hoping it won't call out to Shai-Hulud

As I step - slip - slide from the desert

And the desert wind whispers

Grinding all things to dust.

[Mardrax]

Theme 16: Spit

 

It came up

Like a point driven home

Far from home

In anticipation of coming thrills

 

You lay looking at the ceiling

Wondering wether you should

While we talked of all kinds of

 

Ah, there we go

No, I don't mind

If our exchange of words can't

Sort your thoughts, let's

Let our juices mingle freely

 

But if you say you owe her

Cut it out.

[Mardrax]

Theme 17: Blood

 

Blood Bears No Memory

 

He sat there, staring

Vacantly into the oblivion

That had been

 

Most of his world

Lost to him, as many

Had come, and many gone

 

His life's juices smeared

Across bed, walls, floor

Handskin flayed

 

And they stood, watching

Afraid of a man who'd lost

Touch with everything

 

"Easy," he said. "Take it easy."

"Of course, sir. Don't I always?"

While in the back of her head

The thought prevailed.

"I hate that man."

 

And she left, like she came

Like the many who had gone.

Leaving him, his awareness

-Like his room- clean.

Empty.

Drained.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Mardrax

[Mardrax]

Theme 18: Under

 

Well Stayed

 

Encircled in stone

A gap in the wall with a light peeking

Like the Earth's deepest dark took a break

 

And me reaching

From beyond the river, extending myself

Fear to wet my feet holds me back

 

And you standing

All the way up there, looking down

Wondering how long I'll take to decide

 

And all the world waiting

A safe distance away from my well of dreams, crumbled

Fearing the consequences of what I might take up

 

And still I stand reaching

For deepest enlightenment

Which might as well sweep me away.

Edited May 4, 2011 by Mardrax