The Impossible Poetry Marathon

I saw an advertisement inviting poets to participate

In a poetry marathon, it piqued my curiosity because of the expected rate

Of churning out poems- one per hour for hours twelve or twenty-four

It seemed like an impossible feat to accomplish for sure

Unless someone had ideas in advance mapped out

That anyone would be able to complete it successfully, I doubt

*

To participate in the challenge, I was tempted

At least the twelve hour challenge was one I could have attempted

But it happens to be a day at work

And my responsibilities I cannot shirk

So even though that particular day I cannot spare

Maybe on a self-selected day I could dare

To write a dozen poems in half a day

I am still contemplating the practicality of the challenge anyway..

*

This brought me to ponder over why anyone would be

Willing to participate in this challenge foolhardy

In this day and age speed is not what we need

AI can do everything much faster than the fastest human indeed

Writing one poem after another would not allow reflection

Would not allow the poet to lead the poem in any direction

On the other hand, perhaps this challenge is designed

To get rid of writers’ block in the poet’s mind

Whatever the case, I would be curious to know

The kind of poetry participants have to show

At the end of a successful marathon run

In which direction their ideas have been spun