Comments received on poems by Matthew R. Callies
Lines Written in Contemplation of Suicide
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this carries real weight without collapsing under it. The restraint makes it stronger. It sits in the dark honestly…then allows that final thread of morning to breathe. That closing couplet doesn’t shout hope…it steadies it. Beautifully handled. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 17th, 2026 10:53
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this carries real weight without collapsing under it. The restraint makes it stronger. It sits in the dark honestly…then allows that final thread of morning to breathe. That closing couplet doesn’t shout hope…it steadies it. Beautifully handled. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 17th, 2026 10:53
The Twenty-Ninth That Would Never Die
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this balances wit and vulnerability beautifully. The auditor metaphor gives it structure…then the lighthouse candle holds it steady. “More thoroughly twenty-nine” feels playful at first, but by the doubled flame in the glass, it turns reflective and earned. That final line doesn’t surrender…it expands. Truly well done. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 17th, 2026 10:11
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this balances wit and vulnerability beautifully. The auditor metaphor gives it structure…then the lighthouse candle holds it steady. “More thoroughly twenty-nine” feels playful at first, but by the doubled flame in the glass, it turns reflective and earned. That final line doesn’t surrender…it expands. Truly well done. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 17th, 2026 10:11
Lines Written in Contemplation of Suicide
sorenbarrett said:
Darkness falls but even in the darkest night there remains a glow. Sometimes it takes a while for the eyes to accustom to the dark and see it. A most heart felt write
February 17th, 2026 08:13
sorenbarrett said:
Darkness falls but even in the darkest night there remains a glow. Sometimes it takes a while for the eyes to accustom to the dark and see it. A most heart felt write
February 17th, 2026 08:13
The Twenty-Ninth That Would Never Die
Doggerel Dave said:
Delusion rulz....... nice work if you can get it...
Enjoyed your journey.
February 16th, 2026 05:26
Doggerel Dave said:
Delusion rulz....... nice work if you can get it...
Enjoyed your journey.
February 16th, 2026 05:26
The Twenty-Ninth That Would Never Die
sorenbarrett said:
Denial is sweet until it meets reality in the mirror and from the union is birthed acceptance. A most lovely write a metaphor for makeup and facelifts shutting age outside the door of vanity. Written so well it has to be a fave
February 16th, 2026 05:11
sorenbarrett said:
Denial is sweet until it meets reality in the mirror and from the union is birthed acceptance. A most lovely write a metaphor for makeup and facelifts shutting age outside the door of vanity. Written so well it has to be a fave
February 16th, 2026 05:11
Pee Pee in the Potty
Doggerel Dave said:
You recited that at her 21st birthday party? The role of eccentric uncle is yours! Is it compulsory that every family has to have one?👍😂
February 15th, 2026 15:28
Doggerel Dave said:
You recited that at her 21st birthday party? The role of eccentric uncle is yours! Is it compulsory that every family has to have one?👍😂
February 15th, 2026 15:28
Pee Pee in the Potty
sorenbarrett said:
One step at a time. The first toward the bowl the next on the step stool and then we are on our way to life and its eventual flush. Well written Matthew
February 15th, 2026 12:52
sorenbarrett said:
One step at a time. The first toward the bowl the next on the step stool and then we are on our way to life and its eventual flush. Well written Matthew
February 15th, 2026 12:52
Pee Pee in the Potty
Friendship said:
Proud, Uncle, and yet so beautifully written. Your poem focuses on the everyday experience of a child learning to use the toilet, portraying both the anxiety and excitement associated with this rite of passage. It contrasts the intimidating nature of the “big toilet” with the comfort of the “little plastic throne,” symbolizing the child\'s transition from dependency to independence.
February 15th, 2026 12:41
Friendship said:
Proud, Uncle, and yet so beautifully written. Your poem focuses on the everyday experience of a child learning to use the toilet, portraying both the anxiety and excitement associated with this rite of passage. It contrasts the intimidating nature of the “big toilet” with the comfort of the “little plastic throne,” symbolizing the child\'s transition from dependency to independence.
February 15th, 2026 12:41
A Valentine in Lead
Doggerel Dave said:
As a contribution to Valentine\'s day I would be hard put to find anything more satisfying, particularly as irony is a form I\'m quite addicted to from time to time.
February 14th, 2026 18:22
Doggerel Dave said:
As a contribution to Valentine\'s day I would be hard put to find anything more satisfying, particularly as irony is a form I\'m quite addicted to from time to time.
February 14th, 2026 18:22
A Valentine in Lead
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is chilling from the first stanza. The calm setup makes the violence hit even harder…measured, cinematic, and brutal. “No trial, no plea, no final word” lands like a gavel in the dark. You captured both history and horror in one sweep. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 14th, 2026 10:53
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is chilling from the first stanza. The calm setup makes the violence hit even harder…measured, cinematic, and brutal. “No trial, no plea, no final word” lands like a gavel in the dark. You captured both history and horror in one sweep. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 14th, 2026 10:53
A Valentine in Lead
Cheeky Missy said:
Seems to be a fitting echo of the supposed real cause behind the holiday, as men likewise met their deaths and the priest Valen too, for love and marriage. Thank you for sharing. And some say we should indulge in chocolate truffles today...
February 14th, 2026 10:44
Cheeky Missy said:
Seems to be a fitting echo of the supposed real cause behind the holiday, as men likewise met their deaths and the priest Valen too, for love and marriage. Thank you for sharing. And some say we should indulge in chocolate truffles today...
February 14th, 2026 10:44
A Valentine in Lead
sorenbarrett said:
Nicely written in good rhyme it sets the tone for the other side of Valentine\'s love. It is nice to have a balance. Very nicely written and for that a fave
February 14th, 2026 08:32
sorenbarrett said:
Nicely written in good rhyme it sets the tone for the other side of Valentine\'s love. It is nice to have a balance. Very nicely written and for that a fave
February 14th, 2026 08:32
A Valentine in Lead
Friendship said:
I remember hearing about it when I was young. Your poem delves into themes of death, betrayal, and the stark contrast between societal expectations of love and the grim reality of life in a crime-ridden city. It highlights the loss of innocence and the pervasive influence of crime and corruption.
February 14th, 2026 07:58
Friendship said:
I remember hearing about it when I was young. Your poem delves into themes of death, betrayal, and the stark contrast between societal expectations of love and the grim reality of life in a crime-ridden city. It highlights the loss of innocence and the pervasive influence of crime and corruption.
February 14th, 2026 07:58
Thirteenth Comes to Town
Doggerel Dave said:
In a town populated by suggestables Eli Pike walked free. I do believe that might be a metaphor I would fully endorse.
February 13th, 2026 18:52
Doggerel Dave said:
In a town populated by suggestables Eli Pike walked free. I do believe that might be a metaphor I would fully endorse.
February 13th, 2026 18:52
Thirteenth Comes to Town
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this reminds me of how easily we can be talked into fear… how a date or a rumor can bend the whole day if we let it. Eli’s steady work through it all feels grounding. There’s comfort in that kind of ordinary courage. This one lingers in a good way. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 13th, 2026 12:07
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this reminds me of how easily we can be talked into fear… how a date or a rumor can bend the whole day if we let it. Eli’s steady work through it all feels grounding. There’s comfort in that kind of ordinary courage. This one lingers in a good way. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 13th, 2026 12:07
A Queer\'s Defense of J. K. Rowling
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this stands in the discomfort without collapsing into slogans. The Patronus light, the broken bridge of nuance, the steady refrain…all of it builds a case for complexity over camps. It’s firm, reflective, and unafraid of the gray. I very much appreciate and respect this piece, my friend. As someone who identifies non-binary, I still love Rowling\'s work even though I very much disagree with her position on transgender and/or LGBTQ+ issues. There are no perfect artists and I am not a fan of cancel culture. I agree that we can, for the most part, separate the art from the artist, barring extreme cases. Wonderful job on this. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 13th, 2026 11:12
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this stands in the discomfort without collapsing into slogans. The Patronus light, the broken bridge of nuance, the steady refrain…all of it builds a case for complexity over camps. It’s firm, reflective, and unafraid of the gray. I very much appreciate and respect this piece, my friend. As someone who identifies non-binary, I still love Rowling\'s work even though I very much disagree with her position on transgender and/or LGBTQ+ issues. There are no perfect artists and I am not a fan of cancel culture. I agree that we can, for the most part, separate the art from the artist, barring extreme cases. Wonderful job on this. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 13th, 2026 11:12
Thirteenth Comes to Town
sorenbarrett said:
A fun read for the day. It shows good rhyme through the whole first part and maintained its meter to the end. The story one of superstition and its denial despite evidence to the contrary by the protagonist. Nicely done
February 13th, 2026 10:30
sorenbarrett said:
A fun read for the day. It shows good rhyme through the whole first part and maintained its meter to the end. The story one of superstition and its denial despite evidence to the contrary by the protagonist. Nicely done
February 13th, 2026 10:30
A Queer\'s Defense of J. K. Rowling
Doggerel Dave said:
Balanced form, well wrought poetry which I admire.
When it comes to content, I’m at a very slight loss here (The markers you raise via your title don’t affect me, so my knowledge is very superficial).
JKR became involved in a debate relating to transgenderism in which she takes an oppositional stance. (excuse the terminology if it offends). In what way does a queer need to defend her position, and what do you see as the trend?
February 12th, 2026 17:32
Doggerel Dave said:
Balanced form, well wrought poetry which I admire.
When it comes to content, I’m at a very slight loss here (The markers you raise via your title don’t affect me, so my knowledge is very superficial).
JKR became involved in a debate relating to transgenderism in which she takes an oppositional stance. (excuse the terminology if it offends). In what way does a queer need to defend her position, and what do you see as the trend?
February 12th, 2026 17:32
A Queer\'s Defense of J. K. Rowling
sorenbarrett said:
A powerful statement in poetic form. It stands on its principles and will not bend of be bought off. Well said
February 12th, 2026 11:02
sorenbarrett said:
A powerful statement in poetic form. It stands on its principles and will not bend of be bought off. Well said
February 12th, 2026 11:02
Useless, Useless
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this dismantles myth without ever raising its voice. Theatrical ambition meets “the slow arithmetic of consequence,” and the swamp refuses applause or debate. By the time he finds only sky, the grandeur is gone…just ash and a footnote. Stark, precise, and deeply effective. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 11th, 2026 13:19
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this dismantles myth without ever raising its voice. Theatrical ambition meets “the slow arithmetic of consequence,” and the swamp refuses applause or debate. By the time he finds only sky, the grandeur is gone…just ash and a footnote. Stark, precise, and deeply effective. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 11th, 2026 13:19
Useless, Useless
sorenbarrett said:
This is a refreshing historic narrative poem written from the perspective of the \"villain\" self portrayed as a martyr. With all the cleverly placed references to the event placed in this poem I half expected to see him raise from the mud. A wonderful poem that is a fave
February 11th, 2026 11:12
sorenbarrett said:
This is a refreshing historic narrative poem written from the perspective of the \"villain\" self portrayed as a martyr. With all the cleverly placed references to the event placed in this poem I half expected to see him raise from the mud. A wonderful poem that is a fave
February 11th, 2026 11:12
The Ballad of Banjo Paterson
Doggerel Dave said:
I like the term ‘Colonial Australia’ you have included there, as it clearly defines his era. That notwithstanding, his poetry is full of the good stuff, full of ‘lilt and rhyme’ and humour, two examples of which are “The Man From Ironbark” and ‘The Geebung Polo Club”
You have done Banjo justice in your tribute above.
February 10th, 2026 17:50
Doggerel Dave said:
I like the term ‘Colonial Australia’ you have included there, as it clearly defines his era. That notwithstanding, his poetry is full of the good stuff, full of ‘lilt and rhyme’ and humour, two examples of which are “The Man From Ironbark” and ‘The Geebung Polo Club”
You have done Banjo justice in your tribute above.
February 10th, 2026 17:50
The Ballad of Banjo Paterson
sorenbarrett said:
Beautifully written this poem carries the reader onward with the tale. It is a wonderful poem
February 10th, 2026 13:20
sorenbarrett said:
Beautifully written this poem carries the reader onward with the tale. It is a wonderful poem
February 10th, 2026 13:20
The Ballad of Banjo Paterson
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is a warm, confident tribute…it reads like a toast spoken with genuine admiration. There’s an easy reverence here that never tips into excess. Well done, my friend.🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 10th, 2026 13:06
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is a warm, confident tribute…it reads like a toast spoken with genuine admiration. There’s an easy reverence here that never tips into excess. Well done, my friend.🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 10th, 2026 13:06
Seven Words
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is thoughtful and sharp, my friend. You carry humor and history together without losing either. The piece feels both playful and serious in all the right ways. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 9th, 2026 20:54
Tristan Robert Lange said:
Matthew, this is thoughtful and sharp, my friend. You carry humor and history together without losing either. The piece feels both playful and serious in all the right ways. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
February 9th, 2026 20:54
Seven Words
Doggerel Dave said:
Many thanks for the heads up on George Carlin. The Seven Words was fun, particularly with the subtitles - surely they must have almost run out of stops and brackets. But there\'s more to George C than seven words....
Your pin is a great tribute as well as, for me, an introduction.
February 9th, 2026 19:34
Doggerel Dave said:
Many thanks for the heads up on George Carlin. The Seven Words was fun, particularly with the subtitles - surely they must have almost run out of stops and brackets. But there\'s more to George C than seven words....
Your pin is a great tribute as well as, for me, an introduction.
February 9th, 2026 19:34
Seven Words
sorenbarrett said:
Such good rhyme and flow in this work. Nicely done. I remember well George\'s bit on this subject
February 9th, 2026 07:53
sorenbarrett said:
Such good rhyme and flow in this work. Nicely done. I remember well George\'s bit on this subject
February 9th, 2026 07:53
Woke, but Not Awake
Doggerel Dave said:
Two terms which deserve more open debate are ‘woke’ and ‘politically correct’. You’ve certainly had a red hot go with the first, but the same questions can be directed at both where context counts, ie “Who is saying what to whom, when, why and to what effect?”
Found your piece here an enjoyable and stimulating read.
February 8th, 2026 19:12
Doggerel Dave said:
Two terms which deserve more open debate are ‘woke’ and ‘politically correct’. You’ve certainly had a red hot go with the first, but the same questions can be directed at both where context counts, ie “Who is saying what to whom, when, why and to what effect?”
Found your piece here an enjoyable and stimulating read.
February 8th, 2026 19:12
« Return to the profile of Matthew R. Callies
