Notes About The Poem


I am very proud to introduce Michelo Mweetwa from Zambia. He is a wonderful artist currently working on a socially conscious and inspirational rap album. Michelo joined PoetrySoup back in 2017 when he shared a quote that says a lot about him: “Your worth is not that which you brandish for the world to see, your worth is that which you hold dearly and can’t afford to lose”.


It was a pleasure to collaborate with Michelo on this poem for Silent One’s inspirational contest. As per the stipulations, we both wrote 10 lines - mine (lines 1,2,3,4/ 5,6,8/ 10/ 19,20) and Michelo Mweetwa (lines 7/ 9,11,12/ 13,14,15,16/ 17,18). I hope this encourages Michelo to be increasingly active with PoetrySoup.

Life In the Fast Lane - Collaboration

The calendar flies off the wall
Spinning in a flurry of craziness 
Agitation brings on palpitations 
I’m out of breath and out of time 

Going nowhere at the speed of light 
Rushing through never slowing down 
Days quickly slip away out of sight
Not heeding any of the warning signs

I have little time to nurse the pain
Rushing to put out one fire then another 
I have no time to podium a stage
There’s no reward that can sate my hunger

I have no time to shelter from the rain
I belong to the wild and not a cage
It is like I boarded a runaway train
My life is either an escape or a hard chase

My ladder is high with countless rundles
I’m on an endless hunt in the concrete jungle
The city beast is sucking the life right out of me 
I need to cut the cord and be set free 



AP: Honorable Mention 2020

Submitted on November 2, 2019 for contest INTRODUCTION BY COLLABORATION sponsored by SILENT ONE  -  RANKED 1ST
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Hamilton Avatar
November 16, 2019 at 12:53 PM
Well done, congrats to you both, an enjoyable read!
Gauthier Avatar
November 16, 2019 at 7:49 PM
Thank you so much, John. Most appreciated.
Adams Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 7:08 PM
congratulations Line..great collaboration :) hugs
Gauthier Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 8:51 PM
Thanks. I hope I've encouraged everyone to visit Michelo's poetry.
Mweetwa Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 6:28 PM
Congratulations! I am pleased to share this win with you. I guess art transcends physical limits like distance. I just feel like writing some more.
Mweetwa Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 11:50 PM
Certainly Line Gauthier, thanks. I had to clarify that.
Gauthier Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 8:52 PM
Great, Michelo. By physical limits, I imagine you mean the distance between us - when really we are only an email away. Congrats again, Michelo.
Ligon Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 5:07 PM
This was a fun, creative write. Congrats to both of you!
Gauthier Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 8:54 PM
Thank you so much, Juliet. Most appreciated.
Chiri Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 2:51 PM
Congratulations to you both on a great piece!;)
Gauthier Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 3:50 PM
Thanks, Brenda. It was a fun experience and I loved how it turned out. Thrilled we earned a gold medal win on this one.
One Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 2:08 PM
Nice to see you collaborating with a poet that many might not know about... I hope people read his poems... Thanks for taking part..
Mweetwa Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 6:20 PM
This was a brilliant idea Silent One. I enjoyed the experience, shared great tips from Line and I am motivated as ever. There so many great poets on this forum it is so enriching indeed!
Gauthier Avatar
November 14, 2019 at 3:54 PM
Thank you so much, Silent One. It was a wonderful challenge. It was tricky to connect ~ Some of the less active poets don't check their SoupMail often. I had a marvelous experience and was thrilled with the outcome. Hopefully Michelo is motivated to participate in more contests with a first gold medal around his neck. Thanks again, SO. You launched a fabulous challenge.
Mcintosh Avatar
November 3, 2019 at 2:52 AM
Wonderful entry and introduction. Prayers and blessings for you always, Gina
Gauthier Avatar
November 3, 2019 at 12:28 PM
Thank you so much, Gina. Silent One had a marvelous idea to initiate this mingling of poets.
Mweetwa Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 10:20 PM
Thanks for the kind words, Line. I enjoyed writing this as well. I liked what the different time zone did - giving the poem time to breathe. Have a great day!
Gauthier Avatar
November 3, 2019 at 8:07 AM
Thanks, Michelo. Keep up the good work.
Krutsinger Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 2:24 PM
This is such a fantastic collaboration it feels like it came from one pen!
Gauthier Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 10:07 PM
It was awesome how it worked out... and very exciting that it was a poet all the way from Zambia.
Duet Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 1:07 PM
Great poetic collaboration, Line! I know the feeling. Time, time, time....rushes by so quickly. Time to retire before it's too late to enjoy life I think. :D
Gauthier Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 1:44 PM
I highly recommend it, Carole.
Sands Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 10:11 AM
Congratulations to the both of you for a great collaboration! :)
Gauthier Avatar
November 2, 2019 at 10:21 AM
Thanks, Heidi. I'm really proud of this one.
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