(Angela - This is the poetry that somehow won the BYU portfolio contest. I think it must have been subject originality, because I don't see as it's that good otherwise, but I had a lot of fun writing it.)
Sweating Out Serenity
Birthing Muscle
The sweat drips.
The muscles shake.
The arms quiver.
The stomach aches.
The nausea sours the throat.
The body holds the plank.
It’s not the first 2 minutes that
muscle make;
It’s the 30 seconds past fatigue.
The sweat drips,
The time ticks,
I hold the plank.
I hear sweet words, “Time’s up!”
I fall.
I gasp from torn lungs,
I tremble with blood racing through
my heart,
A new muscle is
born.
Marathon Dialogue
Mile 1 - I believe in winning,
even when my gear
is wrong -
Mile 2 - I believe in winning,
even when the
finish is far off-
Mile 3 - I believe in winning,
even when some are
passing me by -
Mile 4- I believe in winning,
even when it’s
arctic, early, and dark-
Mile 5 - I believe in winning,
even when I’m
hungry.
Mile 6 - I believe in winning,
even when my
shoelace snap-
Mile 7 - I believe in winning,
Even
when the hill never ends-
Mile 8 - I believe in winning,
Even
when I’m falling far behind-
Mile 9 - I believe in winning,
Even
when my tongue turns to sandpaper-
Mile 10 - I believe in winning,
Even
when I'm hungry.
Mile 11 – I believe in winning,
Even
when my ipod dies-
Mile 12 – I believe in winning,
Even
when I’m not yet half done -
Mile 13 – I believe in winning,
Even
when so many run ahead-
Mile 14 – I believe in winning,
Even
when pit stops are all out of fruit -
Mile 15 – I believe in winning,
Even
when I’m hungry.
Mile 16 – I believe in winning,
Even
when shoes blister fire-
Mile 17 – I believe in winning,
Even
when many miles are left-
Mile 18 – I believe in winning,
Even
when fast runners have finished-
Mile 19 – I believe in winning,
Even when the
sunshine leeches my sweat-
Mile 20 – I believe in winning,
Even
when I’m hungry.
Mile 21 – I believe in winning,
Even
when water runs out-
Mile 22 – I believe in winning,
Even
when I want to give up-
Mile 23 – I believe in winning,
Even
when everyone else has won-
Mile 24 – I believe in winning,
Even
when sudden concrete peels my knees-
Mile 25 – I believe in winning,
Even
when I’m very hungry.
Mile 26 – I believe in winning,
Even
if I finish last-
Mile 26.2 – I believe in winning,
Because
I never quit.
Calm with courage, to court disasters.
Sweat weaves courage from my muscles.
Fear sizzles out under the water of courage
Earky,
dark, freezing
One Runner's Catharsis, or How to Clean a Heart
You run and you run. Until you can
run no more.
Toenails blacken; muscles turn
sore.
Lungs claw for air, heart hammering
skin.
Your feet talk out the pain, until
your voice is freed.
Then you fall to
your knees.
You pray and you pray. Until you
can pray no more.
Throat dries; voice turns
hoarse.
Mind pleads for release; heart
yearning peace.
Your voice rambles out the pain,
until your words are freed.
Then you fall to a
journal.
You write and you write. Until you
can write no more.
Fingers cramp; pages turn black.
Words pour into order, heart
beginning release.
Your ink squeezes out the pain,
until your tears are freed.
Then you fall to
the floor.
You cry and you cry. Until you can
cry no more.
Eyes swell shut;
teardrops pour.
Body, spirit, thoughts, emotions
run clear—
Peace floods your heart, until your
self is freed.
Then
you stand.
Your heart beats normal. Your heart
beats sure.
You brace your heart and walk on,
cleansed, ready for more.
Calm with courage, to court disasters.
Sweat weaves courage from my muscles.
Fear sizzles out under the water of courage
When is it Good Enough?
Juxtapositions Rainstorms Bring to Mind
Torrents of water, pounding into the earth,
Torrents of messages, pounding in my ears,
Torrents of thoughts, pounding around my mind,
Torrents of music, pounding through my fingers,
Torrents of blood, pounding up my veins,
Torrents of feet, pounding out a dance,
Torrents of hands, pounding with a rhythm,
Torrents of pain, pounding down my tear ducts,
Torrents of joy, pounding amidst my heart,
Torrents of words, pounding past my pen,
Torrents of peace, pounding all to stillness,
Torrents of love, pounded by nails to a cross,
Torrents of energy, pounding and shaping us into who we
should be.
"Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're
scared to death."
