UNPROTECTED

How Im feeling right now about things going on in my life and the potential life of others.. left in the hands of people who don't care enough, all comments appreciated :) Thank you !!

                            UNPROTECTED

 

Nerves exposed in raw, deep tender tones

Emotions on overload for fear of no one caring

Life hanging in the balance cradled in the hands

Of the incompetent fearful of the outcome

Wanting to choose life through the pain

Clinging to the notion that the feeling of

Anything lets us know we are alive.

Fighting the want to give in and become numb

This line is so thin crossing so tempting

Straws building to the breaking point leaving

Backs grossly twisted, something has to give.

 

Predictions of life ending too soon at the hands

Of the neglectful feeling unprotected.

Uncared for by the people who don’t know

How to do their jobs, it’s only ever about the money

Do what you do to the fullest people, lives hang

From the rafters of your apathy

Our lives flow day by day in a continuous motion

 We have a rhythm, if not felt we trip sending

The next human into despair interrupting the

Prospect of what could be like dominos we

 Fall into the darkness leaving us as children

 Feeling unprotected.

 

By: Debbie Mills Kelly 7/19/2012 

Reviews

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Debbie

Now friends, I thought I would review one of your poems. I chose this attracted by its title.

I will often look at the nuts and bolts of the writing (especially poetry) I review, but will always give the writer the personal impact the poem has had on me so that the writer can get a flavour which helps guide them in their writing.

My review.

1) Structure, rhyme and rhythm: You have two stanzas which are in effect eleven lines long, but where in the second you add a twelfth as a sort of envoy where you repeat the title 'unprotected'. I find that stylish.

You choose not to rhyme.

As for rhythm, albeit it fluctuates a little the relative length of each line lends its own mellow feel.

2) Punctuation: You use punctuation throughout. I like that sort of consistency. Punctuate fully or don't do it at all. There are however places where normally extra punctuation might be needed. But it matters little to me.

This is free verse. As is often the case with your sort of piece it could easily have been written in prose format - 'poetry in prose'.

3) Use of English: Rich! neither over complex nor simple. See more in impact and favourite lines below.

4) Meaning: Often poets may be opaque and leave the reader to guess their meaning (should in fact there be any) or form their own opinion.

On the other hand, poems can be written in a way which is easily understood, author's note or not. I feel this poem fits into the latter category. In a sense, your author's note, whilst interesting and welcome would not be necessary given the title and words of the piece.

Were I to try and summarise your meaning in my own words it would be:

Life can at times be threatening.
There is little to connection with anyone.
If there is at its most benign apathetic and at worst harmful.
You are surrounded by users not givers.
Confined by those who only come to you in need and for your own sake.
Constrained as you say by relationships where only 'money talks'.
As a result you walk a tightrope between survival and depression.
You despair at the superficiality of life.
You lack what you need most.
Even if only one, a person in your life.
People who in their selfless giving prove that the world is not meaningless.
Fellow travellers who exhibit compassion and love.
The absence of that connection results in your feeling vulnerable and unprotected.

5) Impact and favourite lines:

First lift and your first two lines:

Nerves exposed in raw, deep tender tones
Emotions on overload for fear of no one caring

This is where we all need to grab the readers attention. First appearances count. You do this well and set up the meaning. I like the way you use contrasting words 'raw and 'tender'.

You do the same in the next two lines: 'cradled' and 'fearful'

Second lift and the last four lines of your first stanza:

Fighting the want to give in and become numb
This line is so thin crossing so tempting
Straws building to the breaking point leaving
Backs grossly twisted, something has to give.

Here you actually give a flavour of the tightrope you walk between survival and despair.
Above all you subtly weave in the words of the generic 'The straw that broke the camel's back'. That I find stylish.

Third lift:

Uncared for by the people who don’t know
How to do their jobs, it’s only ever about the money
Do what you do to the fullest people, lives hang
From the rafters of your apathy

I love the last line. Here you pull out the point that life is full of superficial uncaring money grubbers.

Next lift:

Our lives flow day by day in a continuous motion
We have a rhythm, if not felt we trip sending
The next human into despair interrupting the
Prospect of what could be like dominos

We all need to realise that the slightest of our actions towards others can have an impact which is unhelpful to harming. We all need to take responsibility for our own behaviours and actions. Impact one person adversely and they might do so to another so the that the seams of many lives are torn apart.

Last lift and your envoy:

Fall into the darkness leaving us as children
Feeling unprotected.

The result of people's actions intentional or not in their superficiality leave us feeling like abandoned vulnerable children.

6) Overview: A well crafted free-style poem, richly packed with meaning, to which I relate and I can only imagine may have the same impact on other of your readers.

I never look at others reviews before doing my own. I want to form my own opinion rather than it being formed by anyone else's

Accomplished.

With my warmest regards


James Hanna-Magill

[Debbie_Philly]

James I am in awe of your review.... you took so much time and care into each stanza... I'm really in awe of it. Thank you so very much... I only hope that I can be as well informed with your pieces.... I knew when I requested you that I would love reading you... I just got online so I will be over. I know in my bio I said I hosted a classic poetry show on air and I did... but I don't know everything their is to know.. not by a long shot so your words are very comforting. My son and daughter have very high IQ's and their English and spelling are impeccable.... mine .. not so much..lol I don't know where they get it from. I like the reader to get what they need or want to get out of the poem, I think this is key to writing free form. We may write it for ourselves at first but I know that every poet loves when another can relate.. I know it makes me very happy. You got it pretty spot on... this stanza here:
Uncared for by the people who don’t know
How to do their jobs, it’s only ever about the money
Do what you do to the fullest people, lives hang
From the rafters of your apathy

Was meant for the medical profession.... they don't always get it right and they some times can be the money grubbers.
Thank you so much for your thourgh review of my work.. I am so happy to meet you.
I just hand surgery on my hand for a large tumor and I'm not supposed to be using it so forgive me if it takes to long to type... I just realized I was using both to type and that is a no no..lol. Thank you again and I very much look forward to reading you :)
Take Care,
Sincerely,
Debbie

[James Hanna-Magill]

Dear Debbie. Thank you for that. My complete pleasure. We have connected. And I am thankful. I see more precisely where you are coming from now in terms of private healthcare. Hello friend, James

[Cole Hayley]

Raw and powerful. To me it felt dark, frantic, and just completely cut-throat. It really made me feel what you must be feeling, great work

[Debbie_Philly]

Thank you very much... its a great compliment to know that you felt it that deep. It means allot :)

[Tate Morgan]

This life we lead is a lot like dominos it is built from adulthood one step upon another and like the story of the three pigs we build of stone sticks or straw and reap the whirlwind if we decide incorrectly

[Debbie_Philly]

I agree Tate... thank you as always !!

[Coyote Poetry]

It can be a scary world. When we don't know the purpose of the people controlling our world and media. Many good question came alive with the strong statements in the poem.
"Uncared for by the people who don’t know
How to do their jobs, it’s only ever about the money
Do what you do to the fullest people, lives hang
From the rafters of your apathy"
I don't know. I believe we need to go back to old fashion ways. Giving needed skill and have concern for the people. A very strong ending to a excellent poem.
Coyote

[Debbie_Philly]

Wow Coyote than you so much.... and yes I agree 100 %... we do need to go back to caring for each other... its the only way to change the path we are on ;)

[Kenneth The Poet]

Heavy write. The loss here is palpable.

[Debbie_Philly]

Thank you Kenneth !!! Very much Appreciated !!!

[zainul]

I am unsure about where to start for reviewing.
Each line is unpredictable-it unfurls its beauty and meaning in unending dimensions!
However,amazed by the magic of words in these lines:
"How to do their jobs, it’s only ever about the money"
"Our lives flow day by day in a continuous motion"

[Debbie_Philly]

Thank you so much Zainul.... very generous review.... :)

[zainul]

You are welcome.
It deserves such review.

[Patrick]

such a differenc between this poem of yours and others you have written..all powerful in their own way but I loved the flow of this one, along with the message it contains.

[Debbie_Philly]

Thank you so much PJ..... I think the difference is time.. the ohters are older and this one is fairly new :) Thank you for reading I really appreciate it !! :)

[JRB]

very dark and haunting tale of humanity in flight

[Debbie_Philly]

Thank you so much JRB..... your words mean allot to me :)

[Crazy Cat Man]

what a dark piece. it reminded me of the Penn State scandal, when all of those kids were left unprotected. such a sad tragedy.

[Debbie_Philly]

Yes feeling unprotected is hard for anyone... and we should always protect the children.....it was very much a tragedy..... thank you for reading me and commenting :)

[emmajoy]

Seems so many of us feel alone, trying to survive, seeing what's around us ready to push us deeper and deeper into nothingness. We've lost that good neighbour instinct, everyone rushing about trying to keep alive, little interaction except perhaps in emergencies, which is as well, else where would we all be. Aparthy is a terrible thing, tis an ignorance of everything but self, whereas sympathy is ..

Your poetry is very finely put, there are amazing phrases .. your reviewers really do find 'food for thought' in your writing.

[Debbie_Philly]

What a wonderful review ... very thought provoking... :) Thank you so much Emma.... it means allot !!