We Call It Poetry

An old one on the observation of poets.

With poetry--

A lonely woman 
can write about her lover 
on valentine's day. 
She can describe his most endearing traits 
line upon line upon line--
                               as if...he existed.

A young girl 
can share her deepest erotic thoughts, 
demonstrating an ability 
to take the reader's hand
and guide them with her words,
leaving them satiated--
but only 
if she's skilled enough.

For those depressed 
and those searching 
to release their pain--
It's a bloodletting.

They've been raped,
they've been bullied,
ignored and even wounded. 
The dark side held them too long.

They need you to listen 
or simply just notice they're alive. 
They may wonder if writing 
is all a fruitless endeavor
when their written cries for help
go unnoticed.

But behind poetry's walls...

A man can offer us a character, 
from a fictitious town
that resembles trees, sidewalks, 
roads and even paths 
of his own treasured youth. 

An adolescent can share a broken heart 
with a seemingly invisible world. 
He/she can release all the angst, 
tear by tear, 
until the poem has ended--
         for now. 

Poetry is a haven 
for ideas, rants, memories or thoughts 
that otherwise would go unheard by most.
The family simply wouldn't understand.  

It is a platform 
for those skilled or unskilled; 
for those confident 
and those apprehensive; 
for those that standout 
and those whose computer 
is their only escape. 

Some here,
have painstakingly learned 
poetry has its elements: 
meter, rhyme, metaphor, and more.
As for others, 
form, cadence, line breaks... 
are all unimportant.

The prolific and the obscene;
those with morals 
and those without;
religious; atheists...
they're all involved.

People have left poetry 
for greener pastures, 
only to re-emerge 
days, weeks, or even years later
when the writer needed another ear 
to listen to all he/she wanted to say.

It is a source of frustration, 
joy and confusion, 
all mentioned into one place.

It is your yesteryear, your today, 
and all your tomorrows. 

It's a percentage of your life, 
your time and your thoughts. 
It consists of creation
and destruction.

It's a statement; it's a confession.
It's a voice that understands;
It's a disciplinarian that doesn't.
It's a welcome sign.
It's a keep out sign.
It's a microcosm of continents 
and far off cultures.
It's a ghost from the past.
It's a community.
It's a small town.
It's a lyrical lagoon.

It's you...it's me...it's us
sailing within
our own private harbor.

And we call it

POETRY.

Author's Note

.

Reviews

[Woody]

brilliant depiction of WC and its "patrons". as I was reading along, I caught myself nodding in ascent cos you really hit it on the head, Relic.
I find WC a wonderful place to spend time and learn and, maybe, bring something with you for all to see.
good one, Relic.

[Relic]

Thanks so much for the review Woody

[Samuel Dickens]

I think you covered it quite well. Although I get fed up with this site from time to time, I've been here for about seven years, so it looks doubtful that I'll leave. Besides, I've got some really good friends here and meet new ones all the time.

[Relic]

I know what you mean Sam. I've been here a little over four years I think and have left from time to time only to return. I tried to detach myself and write what I saw with no bias towards the past or what I see now I don't fully agree with.

[Relic]

Oh, and by the way--"t's a page where a man can skillfully offer us
a fictitious character from a fictitious town that
resembles the trees, sidewalks, and roads of his
own youth.

You were who I was thinking of when I wrote these lines.

[Samuel Dickens]

Gosh. Thank you.

[Relic]

:)

[Debbie_Philly]

It's a platform for those who are skilled
and unskilled.
For those confident and unconfident.
For those who stand out and those who
remain invisible.
It is a lair for the prolific and those obscene.
and the last lines tie it altogether nicely

it's you...it's me...it's us.

It's Writers Cafe.

Very well written and truth in allot of it...

[Relic]

Thank you, the initial posting of this one got little notice.

[Pax]

ahh... what a description and i am one of them.... WC has done a lot in my learning and life... so its so, so great i had found this site... and the friends i have now... i think you have much write it all our reason why we always come here... well done my friend.

[Relic]

Thank you Pax.

[The Analog Kid]

This is a pretty novel little write. So many truths. You covered much ground.

[Relic]

Thanks Pat for the review.

[The Analog Kid]

Sure.

[CS]

It has just occured to me that I have been seriously under utilizing this site.....

[Relic]

Could be. :) Thanks for reading.

[David the writer]

Great job. Even Dracula read where he fitted in. It was so fun reading too! Dracula thinks of WC has a haven, a place for my voices to be heard, and my persona to be expirenced. But back to the poem, definetly true to Writerscafe, which I bet is very difficult

[Relic]

Thanks for the review Dracula. I think in difficult times and times of contentment we all fit in in some way.

[David the writer]

That's what makes Writerscafe great. And this poem, it captured anyone between breakup artists, and the dark side artists.

No problem, it was worth reading.

[Frieda P]

Wow, I see myself in so much of this...you've personalized it and made it about poetry, how could you go wrong, seriously? I love reads about poetry, this is a rather detailed version of so many I've read, you hit it out of the ballpark with this one! I tip my hat to you and all that jazz Relic! Muchly enjoyed this one! You are a poet through and through, don't ever doubt that....

[Relic]

Thank you so much Frieda for saying that. :)

[Frieda P]

Just stopping by to put this in my favs, I totally forgot. ;-)

[Relic]

You're so cool. :)

[Frieda P]

Hey you're the one that wrote this very cool read.... ;-)

[Relic]

You've got a point there. :D

[Frieda P]

LOL!

[LA Lorena]

I thought you said you lost your muse? Looks like it found you!

WC is so many things to so many as you have so eloquently expressed here. I thinkthough, that what it truly is is a place to escape to, an imaginary world that one can create and mould to suit their own needs and purpose. It is what you need and want it to be.

Don't be so hasty in your departure dear relic. Looks as though the muse is not quite done with you as yet.

[Relic]

Thank you LA for filling in the details I've missed and for your kind words, I'm grateful.