PAD Challenge - Days 15 & 16

Day 15 - Write a poem about deadlines (because, you know, it's tax season. I obviously am not very good at deadlines as I'm posting this a day late!)

This poem requires a little insider information as to what I'm talking about, but most of the people who read this blog should know what I mean. I couldn't think of anything that had to do with an actual deadline, so this is what I came up with. (It's a line that's named death. Close enough, right?)

The Black Line of Death

My brother's team is climbing, climbing

all his quizzers jumping, jumping.

For first place are hoping, hoping,

To stay above the black line of death.

Quiz masters are asking, asking,

Team members are quoting, quoting,

Score keepers are watching, watching,

To see who falls below the black line of death.

Time out! Coaches are coaching, coaching.

Time in. Audience is waiting, waiting.

Proud parents are video taping,

Regardless of the black line of death.

Geeks, the laptops repairing, repairing,

Helpers, the quiz boxes are packing, packing.

Quizzers, the chairs are stacking, stacking.

And still is looming the black line of death.

Worship team is playing, playing,

TFC, awards are giving, giving.

All the quizzers smiling, smiling,

who stayed above the black line of death.

Day 16 - Write a poem having to do with death.

The Alien Planet

Dear friends and family,

I recently visited an alien planet.

It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen.

There were plants as tall as houses,

and aliens most strange.

I could never quite tell if

The air was toxic.

Some aliens were deathly afraid of it.

Others breathed in all they could get of it.

I, myself, chose to keep my helmet on.

The planet and the aliens were one.

They covered it almost entirely

with strips of manufactured rock.

I wonder if they were trying to bind it

and hold parts of it together.

They have a peculiar ritual

that isn't a ritual at all.

The right of passage is something

that happens to all of them

yet they are always surprised when it happens.

They are never prepared either.

They are always sad when it happens.

You'd think they would remember

Every day to prepare for such an important thing.

I know I did. I always looked forward to growing up.

But anyways, on this alien planet

I got to see this ritual.

They are very primitive, and they have

No idea what happens after someone has

gone through the right of passage.

If you ever visit there, I'd suggest

It as an educational trip only.

It's no vacation, but it has opened my eyes

To how forgetful a race could possibly be.

I hope to take my children to Earth someday.