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

[Karen]

I was just letting another poet know that sometimes strangers become our closest friends on sites where one can express oneself freely just as you have done so expertly in this poem. By sharing with readers the different types of people that take advantage of WC, you've included them all in this poem, carefully recognizing and appreciating their contributions not only as writers and poets, but as people and potential friends. Thank you for writing this poem and sharing it with us!

[Relic]

I appreciate your kind words Karen. Thank you for reading.

[redzone]

in a world of hurt,pain and often loneliness, places like WC are "home". being a newbie, there is much to learn, to take in, with people to meet. when i first got a computer and started to post poems the feelings you describe were all there. it hasn't existed for many years now. perhaps WC will be such a place for me again. thanks for your words, they are welcoming and much appreciated. redzone

[Relic]

Thank you redzone. WC is probably the best writing site on the web and I'm sure you will become as addicted to it as most here are. Welcome.

[Poetic Justice]

Ahhh I am feeling all creamy inside!! Well said

[Relic]

haha, Thanks for reading.

[Keith]

Yep, I'm in that list, I get a couple of mentions. For me the WC has been quite an experience, you seem to have accurately captured it all. Great write. I have also read you last few writes, but dared no leave comments as you seem to be swamped with reviews, no wonder, its all great work.

[Relic]

Thanks for the kind words my friend. I am shuffling reviews all the time here. ha

[lee von cleef]

What a gift to give all, a plain paper bag that holds us all, so much better then the napkins I have stored in shoe boxes ,inside a dusty trunk, along the barns side, just out of the rain, splashed by sun.

[Relic]

Sometimes that's what barns are for. Those rusty nails need some sort of company. Thanks for the review.

[Kenneth The Poet]

This is an ode for the ages. At for the WC'ers. Thank you for this.

[Relic]

Thanks very much.

[Muse]

Favorited

You really showed your talents here with this poem. I have watched you evolve over the past year. A quiet shy writer no more...you are confident, as you should be. You have a gift...and it needs to be shared.

[Relic]

Thanks Muse. I want to improve. My writing break will help me. :)

[Muse]

I took a break..it made me worse...so I dunno, don't go away too long. lol

[Relic]

I'm not going anywhere, I'm just not writing. haha

[Muse]

I don't think anybody truly goes anywhere. WC is in our blood.

[Relic]

I think so too. I've tried to escape but voluntarily came back to my cell. We're like otis in mayberry. No keys are needed. ha

[Hana Saemon]

love this! i couldnt decide which was my favourite part so im just gonna say all of it! it's so true! brilliantly written!

[Relic]

Many thanks Hana.

[Tom]

Brilliantly thought out, your ode to the writer's cafe is a great homily to the broad and diverse amount of contributors who all use this medium to express themselves and you have encapsulated just about every type of personality.

Top write, really enjoyed this !

[Relic]

Thank you very much Tom.

[Tom]

You're welcome Sir !

[Sheila Kline]

Writer's Cafe is indeed a place where writers of all walks of life may have a platform for others to read their work. You have summed up many of these "types" in a positive way.

I appreciate your observation, and insight of the many reasons why one chooses to write.

The ending of your poem, "it's you...it's me...it's us receives a resounding, 'YES, YES, YES' from me!

Bravo!

[Relic]

Thank you very much Sheila.