THE GOOD POET.

A continuation into my exploration of what defines art worth anything.

i crave a touch i've never had,

a gaze i've never seen,

a taste i've never imagined.

i pour my molten soul

into pages of expeditions

of ideas and worlds

explored a thousand times,

and yet,

never traversed.

the dust on my shoes

and the blood in my teeth,

does that mean anything 

to a world like ours?

they say to be GOOD,

you should be learned,

adroit with a knitting needle

to thread sentences together.

you should touch the lives

of people you've never met,

become a mirror in homes

you'll never visit.

they say to be GOOD,

there should be fluidity

in irrigation systems

keeping dreams of flint

a steady ember.

what is GOOD to me 

is not GOOD to you,

or maybe it is,

yet maybe it isn't.

i ask . . . 

if Emma has a greenhouse

of vibrant marigolds

under electric skies

of dazzling colours

and if Keith has boxes

of wild Texan flora,

shaped like the horns

of such a bold manifesto,

then what makes 

any of it

GOOD?

my name is Emunah June.

maybe i am a GOOD poet,

maybe i am not.

but i am here,

and maybe that

can be enough.

Reviews

[Tan-90]

You are a GREAT poet and a wonderful human being. If you needed evidence, you only need look at your own questioning of self and your craft. This exploration will help you find the direction that you and your art needs to take. So trust this process.

I loved the poem. Beautiful. It resonated deeply in my bones. Your words spoke to my own insecurities about what it means to be good and useful and dutiful... I also enjoyed the stylistic arrangement of the whole piece. All in all, wholesome and tender piece of writing. I thank you very much.

[Davidgeo]

You shouldn't have blood on your teeth.

You should re read the lord of the rings.

The Hobbit is genuinely good writing. Even now, to this day that book which was written in the 1930's is still really spectacular. Okay some of the "songs" are cheesey but in context, it's still pretty awesome. The Hobbit, I can't recomend it enough.

I was going to critique your poem more seriously but, man I've been drinking. I think the Toilken references' say more than whatever s****y review I was going to leave anyway. Seriously, read the hobbit, it's fantasitc man.

[Emunah June.]

I havent read the Hobbit, believe it or not! I has been on my list of things to do for ages, but life has just always gotten in the way and I barely ever have time to read. I just read Jenette McCurdy's newest book, and that wasn't bad, and now I'm on a book written by a hospice nurse. I'll have to make that one next!

Make sure you eat today, stay hydrated, and keep some headache meds nearby!!

[Michael Sun Bear]

It is definitely enough for me! You are a great poet, just keep writing. Your opening stanza surprised me a bit; a bold statement for a married woman. You know, I am so much older than you, have decade upon decade of life experiences, and I just realized much of what makes for great poetry is what the reader brings to it. Your poetry will not resonate in the same manner to a twenty year old as it does to a seventy year old. Not true for every poem, but true for quite many. That said, I have always felt you write beyond your age. Surprise me quite often.

[Emunah June.]

Michael!! My friend!!

Yes, the opening line is meant to be a bit bold -- but not in the literal sense, more like the touch of approval from the faceless audience I write for. There will always be a person I haven't met, eyes that have never found my work, minds that have never mulled my poetry over. For that, I will always be hungry.

I am so thankful you like my work, and that it resonates with you in any kind of way. Meeting you has been such a blessing!