We Call It Poetry

An old one on the observation of poets.

Poetry as a haven for the voiceless

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

[Ruth]

I really enjoyed this Relic...so many elements woven, tears merged and silence comforted, smiles reciprocated and sadness halved...so many worlds combined and travelled through...mind blowing when we count a blessing isn't it? :) x

[Relic]

Thank you Poppy, I echo your thoughts.

[Ruth]

Most welcome :)

[David Scott]

Yes.
You have said it well Relic.
I had an author tell me, "Poetry is for those who need it".
You have explored the wonders of this place and the characters representing real people here. Still, I fear it is only a shadow rather than a mirror at times. I wonder if this experience is healthy or not, but I am settled for now to consider the WC is what each person makes it for themselves. Like so many of our experiences in life. We can find growth or we can diminish ourselves and others...
In the end, the WC shows the power of individual free will.

I loved this write Relic. You have my heart constricted with emotion and my mind musing. Thank you for sharing this.

[Relic]

Thanks for such intelligent reviews David. They're appreciated. I too often wonder about the validity of this place and some of the characters who stroll its paths. I close this account from time to time but always re-open. 2014 will tell me if I should stay or move on. I'll see.

[David Scott]

I understand. I hope for myself and other you choose to stay.
Be careful placing too much importance on a moment's thought or even a decade of feelings... Both wash away like a grain of sand in the ocean of our own infinite souls, yet both have the potential to yield precious pearls.
Not that you need my advice... You seem wise beyond my years.
Be well today and always Relic

[Relic]

Thank you David.

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I really love this so very true so very true it is a place to say I am here I matter someone listen to me and so many of us do thank you for a wonderful write .

[Relic]

I'm glad you liked it Chloe, thanks.

[Chloe..Across the Universe]

You're welcome I would have liked to have said more about the piece but I'm using a mobile phone which I am not very good with the keypad on it

[Relic]

Your review is fine and I appreciate it.

[Caradoc]

Isn't it though?

What an all encompassing piece you've written about the Cafe. I quite enjoyed reading this. Stanzas fourteen and sixteen really spoke to me, as I vanished from the site once, only to return sometime later, my muse suddenly having decided it had something to say. I have seen others come and go. Sometimes it was sadly, sometimes it was often, sometimes it was annoyingly so. I think my favorite stanza though, was eighteen.

I did notice two errors within this piece. I hope you don't mind me pointing them out.

Stanza six; you used "their" instead of "they're".
Stanza sixteen; you used "has" instead of "have".

Aside from those, I found nothing I disliked about this one. It was enjoyable and reading it made my face run the gamut of expressions. Very well done.

-Caradoc

[Relic]

Thank very much and thanks for the review and the corrections, they are always welcome. I've seen many people leave and I still think about some today, wondering where their lives have taken them.

[Caradoc]

Yea, I hear ya. You're very welcome.

Have a good one.

[Epipsychologist]

Excellent poem! I'd be kind of surprised if there were a writer on here who can't find themselves described somewhere above. Maybe not, people are unique. Nonetheless, it's written in a pretty kind if way that explains why people might post some of the things they do.

[Relic]

Thank you for your review.

[Lilly]

Great idea for a poem and you've captured WC well. Not only the cafe though, but also the outlet writing alone is for many
Nice work!

[Relic]

Thanks very much Lilly.

[Lilly]

you're welcome :)

[J.J. NIGHTINGALE]

All true ...

Cool ! ..................... Jazzy

[Relic]

Thanks Jazz.

[J.J. NIGHTINGALE]

You r welcome ... :).............

[Lydia Shutter]

An anthem for Writer's Cafe! We are all this and more...a community of people sharing and caring and it is all good! I enjoyed this write. Lydi**

[Relic]

Thanks very much Lydi. :)

[Dye]

What a great take on the Cafe' environment. It is spot on and reads perfectly. I have met every type of person you described here and read every style of poem mentioned.

"It is a source of frustration, confirmation,
joy and confusion, all in one place."

It hasn't taken me long to learn this.

[Relic]

Thank you Dye.

[Mia]

I’m feeling slightly blue, the amount of times I’ve thought of people posting their hearts and wishing I knew where to go to find them…just to read just so their heard! It may be all they need to feel comfort, I convinced myself that there is so much I can do and now this…but anyhow that’s mine not yours to bear!
This is incredible, truly…very creative. I’ve seen some ‘WC’ poems and none so far have gone so in depth nor have any seemed so well thought out!

[Relic]

I thank you for such nice words Mia, thank you. We can only do so much here. Eventually, if we all persist, our thoughts will be heard.