Stubborness

a poem about free will

When all you have is pride
Stubbornness is golden
And onyx tough
Black as coal
Would-be diamonds

Chide!
Try to shame me
For steps and missteps
Spents and misspents
Doings and undoings
Thought about in night’s quiet
Regretted

All I have
Is this shell around
My soul
My cocoon of softness
Holding you out.
Myself in

Remember golden stubbornness
Onyx tough
Black as Coal
Would-be Diamonds

Reviews

[Taylor]

I generally do not critique poetry because I feel unqualified. However, I like to support new writers on the site and the title of this poet captured my interest. I love the precision of the poem, the vivid images, the philosophy and the warning. Beautifully executed.

[sandpiper66]

Thank you.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

a diamond in the rough as shawn colvin would say...

i really like the play on words you use in the third stanza...and the idea of "spents and misspents"
and how the cocoon protects but is also soft...maybe vulnerable with the right person.

j.

[sandpiper66]

Thank you for the insights.

[Roland Petrov]

Minimalist in all the right ways, and the repetition works wonderfully. My brother is a well-known mineral dealer, so your choice of metaphor worked particularly well for me. A gem!

[sandpiper66]

I am glad the poem resonated with you. Thank you for reading.

[Richard🖌]

Well, I can certainly clearly relate to this from the days of my youthful mindset that kept me sheltered and protected from so much, barred from so much, and deprived me from so much more … made me miss so much before I learned to let loose and enjoy what life has to offer, after shedding the stubbornness.

Splendidly portrayed in vivid emotional imagery, that which stands in the way for so many who deserve so much more, often brought about by the softer, more gentle side that has been set upon unfairly too many times, or has been too deeply hurt to be willing (or unable) to be easy.

Goodness, you really got me involved, but this is what excellent poetry does … thank you! ⁓ Richard

[sandpiper66]

Thank you for your insight and for taking the time to comment!

[Richard🖌]

It was my pleasure to read and review for you … you are most welcome! ~ RJ