Managed to eke this one out between sneezes… Drawn back the ragged hand scratched by thorns nails torn on jagged stones Stained into fibres a studied melancholy told in hoarse tones jostling with gentle drones Revealed beneath the excavated dirt buried in layers burned beyond recognition Denatured the fragments once buried here then a poison, [...]
Originally posted here. Another year’s half marathon come and gone. As I often point out, I prefer to do the half marathon because I like to sleep; consequently doing the full 24-hour marathon simply wouldn’t work for me, as it would take me at least a couple of days to get back to normal. Making [...]
The future used to be so fucking cool… Forty years ago none of this was a consideration The future was going to be better—easier We were going to have time to do what was important We were going to have peace and prosperity We were going to be a planet not a collection of nations [...]
I got off to a weirdly early start this morning—including checking the Poetry Marathon website for interesting prompts that came after hour 12. The hour 17 prompt (basically the same as the hour 4 prompt, but with different photos—I chose this one by Wei Ding), combined with the Paddy McAloon/Prefab Sprout song ‘I Trawl the [...]
My Hour 12 poem—and that's a wrap. The prompt was to do an erasure poem, so I went to the photograph I'd taken a few weeks back of p. 143 from Cosey Fanni Tutti’s art sex music (Faber & Faber, 2017): We forged on— artists, poets and musicians He was wild dangerous and uncompromising I [...]
My Hour 11 poem. The prompt was to write a poem in the form of a letter to a past self. I knew exactly which one to pick… Okay, we have to talk Every few years you try to save yourself time or effort by taking shortcuts You know what I’m talking about— don’t even [...]
My Hour 10 poem. The prompt was to use at least five of the following words: canteen – dock – fir – hush – moonbeam – shelf – damn – coffee – concrete – fog The coffee at the canteen’s no damn good, you know I think the supplier slipped the kitchen super a bag [...]
My Hour 9 poem. 1 Somehow I’ve never thought to say anything it’s hard to complain when the terms have never been disclosed and you don’t know who holds the note or when it’s supposed to come due I guess I’ve always figured the payments will eventually get to the right person 2 Is every [...]
My Hour 8 poem. Two directions traversed at once the map folded in half and deliberately marked Signposts conspicuously absent the face of the compass blank with the needle missing This is quite a journey (22 June 2019) The original post is at https://thepoetrymarathon.com/blog/kevinjoconner/sevenling-two-directions/ Don’t forget to check out the other poems! Wishes sometimes have [...]
My Hour 7 poem. Inspired by this piece of music I recorded back in March: Moonlight shines on the back of her neck suggesting muted colours, light textures a flowing arc I am intrigued, enchanted but keep a respectful distance This moment is a haven I am but a wanderer seeking sanctuary Yes, I may [...]
