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

[Fran Marie]

Poetry is so accurately explained in
this write-up ; you touched down on
so many views for why we write it
whether truth or fiction it's a great
way to release emotions past; present
and future poetry is good for the soul

nice work Tim

[Relic]

Thanks very much, Fran. :)

[lovelymarina]

absolutely brilliant and one of my favorite poems i've ever read.

[Relic]

Thanks so much for your kind and generous review, Lovelymarina. 😃

[lovelymarina]

I'm so inspired by your poetry...and I'm new at it. Would you mind popping over to my page and giving some constructive criticism on one of my works? Thank you dearly.

[Relic]

Could you point me to one?

[lovelymarina]

California!

[Relic]

I'll give it a look.

[Peter Garfield]

OH WOW. That second stanza is absolutely gorgeous but the line "to release their pain--
It's a bloodletting." feels so relateable and raw. I think you do an incredible job of giving the readers a taste of why folks write (Poetry) each stanza its own journey!!

[Relic]

Thanks very much, Carissa. Much appreciated.

[Chris Shaw]

An old poem and pleased to find that it is out for an airing. It deserves to be. You describe so well the poetry journey and this forum where I hang out with like minded souls. Thanks Tim.

Chris

[Relic]

Wow, thanks for noticing this one, Chris. :)

[Chris Shaw]

I followed PB :)

[Poetic Beauty]

That is the beauty of poetry it is imperfectly perfect with its own words images and feeling being poured upon the pages with laughter love sex nature sadness pain and infinite other topics and thoughts. I love this unique poem about all that poetry can be

[Relic]

I appreciate your thoughts, PB. Thanks. :)

[Pryde Foltz]

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

We are a tribe for sure. This was an amazing write, Relic:)

[Relic]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Pryde. Thanks.

[Brad]

All of this. I have always dreamed writing, but what sounded good in my head seemed like garbage on paper, so for years just tore it up or deleted. Finally worked up the courage to not hit delete. A few months later clicked that terrifying "publish" button. I regret so much the stuff that is lost forever, but here we are now!

[Relic]

Live and learn. And yes, here we are. Thanks so much, Brad.

[emmajoy]

It's so true. Every thought or opinion one feels can be expressed. Poetry invites and allows the mind and pen to talk about any emotion, opinion, imaginative or logical streak within Self. It allows free rein to be Anything or Anybody. '.. trickling stream in sun-drenched Summer or adventurer to infinity.' Poetry is pure magic in both the simplest form or academic.

What a wonderful piece of writing, Relic. One of the best I've read and felt in eleven years …

[Relic]

You're very kind, Emma, thank you. :)

[Aurora]

I don't have words... this has connected to me at a deeply personal level. Will review this later when I get my bearings right.

[Relic]

I've had so many reviews in the past I don't need them as much. This review is fine. I'm grateful for you words here as they are. Thanks.

[Verse]

Thanks, relic, for taking the time to find this treasure for me! How many times have I thought or half-thought many of these concepts... disciplinarian that doesn’t, creation and destruction, like some fringe philosophy we all quietly subscribe to.

The commenters below have stated praise for your freshness, intelligence and originality in ways far better than anything I can come up with.

The master class for me lies in two places.

If the lonely woman can conceive of him and bring him to the page, then I would argue that he, as the manifestation of her emotions and her creativity, does indeed exist.:)

And the picture is extremely incisive. All that’s missing is the human element, gnarled fingers reaching for the forbidden book.

V

[Relic]

Great review. Thanks so much, Verse. :)

[Verse]

You’re welcome! Can’t stop smiling for some reason! :):)

V

[Relic]

Yes, each time I look at your picture I notice that. :)