HOW MANY VICTIMS?

Excerpts from "HOW MANY VICTIMS?"

... It's like you're driving to your destination with a blindfold on;
Then wonder why you keep ending up on someone's front lawn....

In your hurry to get to your goal and have sought after clout;
You're creating too much wreckage and taking pedestrians out!

...You hit them in the crosswalk, head on in the collision;
Their dreams are now up in smoke because of your decision.

...How many victims have to fall for you to get where you want to be?
How will you answer to the charge of manslaughter in the 1st degree?

DOORMAT

1st Half of the Poem "Doormat"

I'm done. You've trampled on me many times. You won't anymore;
I'm done being your floor mat, forever waiting outside your door.
Being that squish of comfort on cement as you come and go;
You've not made me an equal, but turned me into something low.

It was always a competition with you, I didn't sign up to compete;
You’re threatened by my resilience, so you use me to wipe your feet.
You’ve dropped your ashes on me, I've been singed by the burn;
Set down on me your canned goods, paid for with what I earn....

Dark Misery Long

Excerpts from the poem: Dark Misery Long

Darkness came, made itself known
Stretched over all the window shown
Terrorizing, daunting, a relentless bully
Not letting up enough to recover fully.

I hear children's sequels of happy delight
But have no joy seeing them without light...

It's true you can tell when love is in the air
Pose my arms to hug, but no one is there...

Stepped into my future and all felt right
Never before seen such astonishing light...

Encased in unfathomable love, pondered
Why was it so long that I had wandered?...

Casa 0101 Poetry Slam of 2010

I participated in the most amazing Poetry Slam Ever! Put on by Casa0101 I thought the piece that I prepared was pretty good... but these poets blew me out of the water, including by far "Hustle Diva" who I am pictured with here. Of course I didn't know what to expect I had never been in a poetry slam before, only a few 'open mics' here and there where nobody was really "off book". Here each poet, better than the next it was like we were transported to another reality that I can't even describe my friend Sheila came with me and we just kept looking at each other...stunned after and during each moving, passionate, heart-wrenching piece. Afterwards she asked me..."How would you even describe this evening?" I thought a second and I said "Words cannot express the words that were expressed".

A week later I am still dumb founded by what these talented slam poets could do with the same English language that I use. More slams to come... I hope.

2010 Poetry Slam

I am going to be participating in my first ever Poetry Slam, feel a little more nervous than a regular open mic... I've only been to a few of those, but this seems a little more intensified, especially since there will be judges and everything! Please come out and cheer for me!

SATISFIED?

Satisfied?

Satisfied, satisfied, satisfied, will we ever be?
If we were satisfied it would un-move us, complacency.
Sleep too long, why get up, everything is going to be fine;
No need to be rational or sober, pass the carafe of wine!

Awakened from that life of bliss and not by a dream sweet;
But by foreclosure, repo-man, pull the rug out from under feet.
Satisfied, satisfied, didn’t think you’d ever become hurt;
Satisfied and by satisfaction decided you didn’t have to work.

Empty hand, empty belly, empty life, are you still full of pride?
Life on the street a rude awakening; are you still satisfied?


Katherine Norland © 6-7-09 All Rights Reserved

weSPARK Book Coming Out

I had been going to weSPARK most Tuesday's for their writer's group. The leader would throw out a topic or play music or pass around an item or a picture and then she'd give us about 5 to 7 minutes to write whatever that prompt triggered. Many of the poems on here (so far) were done in those 5 minutes on fire.

Judith from class has put together a collection of writings based on the writers from that group. I have the privilege of having about ten of my poems in that book that should be out later this year. It will be available at the weSPARK location and as of right now I'm not sure where else it will be.

But it is sure to be inspiring, thought provoking and even a little dose of humor for good medicine. Proceeds will be going to this important cancer support center. Please do your part and pick up a copy. Visit www.weSpark.org