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

[An owl on the moon]

Yes, oh yes... that and more.. so true! I have been here over five years now, and have seen so many changes... read so many inspirations... shared joys and heartaches.... and felt the thriving lifeblood of poets singing from the silence. Both beauty and tragedy live here... just like the real world...

[Relic]

I'm glad you could identify with it Craig, thank you.

[Rita L. Sev]

All this an more, like a family - like a home. Very nice, Relic!

[Relic]

My thanks.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Very thoughtful piece! I'm glad that you have found all of these things here...because I have found the same. For me, this is a place to share and to relish in the sharing of others; emotion is at its true core. Sure, I work on my form, metaphor, polish pieces before submitting to journals or working on my collections, but more than that, it is about sharing the pieces of me that the general world does not see. This is poetry, and this place is a good forum for sharing, learning and finding commiseration in like minds. Well done!

[Relic]

Thanks Sarah, I can't seem to escape WC and I guess that's a good thing. There are such good writers here.

[Wolfwind]

Absolutely amazing work of creative ink! You have woven all the aspects into a wonderful tale of WC truth. It is indeed a place of many people, many ways and many cultures that come and going along their journey of the world beyond. I think you have captured it well. Thanks for sharing your craft!

Aaron - Wolfwind

[Relic]

I appreciate your thoughtful words Wolfwind, Thank you.

[Broken Wings]

Awesome penning, it gives me great insight into what I have to look forward to and explains some of which I have already experienced as a newbie to WC. Thank you for sharing this amazing piece. I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. A great description :)

[Relic]

Thank you so much for the review Broken Wings and welcome to Writers Cafe. You'll meet a lot of writers here that are very good. You can check out my Hall of Fame story to see who I've read. There's no need to review. There are lots of names there and you can always check out the writers online page for more. Good luck.

[Broken Wings]

Thank you for the tip :) Ill have a look through. I have seen a lot of great writers on here so far, many more to come I'm sure. Hopefully WC will teach me, and help me up skill so I too can become a good writer. I'm on here to learn and grow, share my scribbles and read everyone elses. I appreciate your advice and thank you so much for the warm welcome.

[Renée]

This is the best description of what W C is that i have ever read !! I am thrilled to see you mentioned the continents and cultures that is part of the magic the internet brings to our lives..diversity and understanding .. thank you for sharing this piece ( :

[Relic]

Thank you for reading it and your compliment. I'm grateful to you Renee.

[Renée]

It was my pleasure to read your work ( :

[Angi]

I have come to love this place. It is all you said and more. Welcoming arms are here to embrace me no matter what time of day I log on. Love this piece, Relic. I do. Angi~

[Relic]

Glad to hear that Angi. It helps when you're a nice person which you are. Thanks for the review.

[Angi]

Awww. You are welcome.

[Ravyne Hawke]

You've described WC so well and then some. I think I've gone through everything you described here at least once or twice with my writing. It's been 17 months for me here and although there have been a few times I thought about leaving, I always manage to talk myself into staying. There really is no place like WC.

[Relic]

I've been here about 5 years I think. I have a love/hate relationship with the site and have left a bunch of times. I still manage to hang around although I don't post as much anymore. Thanks so much for the reviews, you're so kind.

[Ravyne Hawke]

You are welcome dear =)

[Relic]

~~~~~~~:-)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is like a small town...with all kinds of poets as residents...

this is so well penned...i have come to love it here....been a bit over a year now i believe that i have been here...it is so often my inspiration, just to be here and read other poets...

thanks for this Relic...

jacob

[shallimarRose]

Wow Relic... (lol love that name) I am so glad I got to read this.. and from one relic to another I think this is a fantastic write.. Right? enjoyed every line.. I have been here at the Cafe' for a while not but only recently really using it.. thank you for a wonderful posting.. xo shallimarRose