Hazard

sorenbarrett

There is danger in being a poet, a razor tongue draws blood without pain
Long hours of brain's sweat falls into an empty pocket with no visible gain
Word toys of women and boys outgrown when he becomes a man
Expected to hold emotional breath till death or as long as he can

 

Critic's guns intent to maim all take aim on the heart of a naked name
Metaphors of speech the deaf you can't teach rolling their eyes in blame
Vulture birds they pick at private words vomiting bones and gristle that stick
They ride a storm over form, rhyme and time, doctors looking for the sick

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Comments +

Comments9

  • orchidee

    On hazards, a nasty poet on another site commented on lots of poems - 'I don't care much for this poem!' They may have hounded him off the site with a 'good riddance!'

    • sorenbarrett

      Oh dear he sounds familiar. Thanks for the read my friend and the warning. Duly noted.

      • orchidee

        He/she is not on this site - don't think so anyway. Oops!

      • soheil khodaparasti

        This poem reveals how words can both wound and illuminate, and the risks poets face in exposing themselves—yet they write anyway, using the act to express their truths and transform pain into something that endures beyond criticism.

        • sorenbarrett

          Thank you Soheil for your read and interpretation of this poem. Your poetic expertise and words are most important to me and deeply appreciated.

          • soheil khodaparasti

            Thank you so much for your kind words. Your recognition means a great deal to me. I deeply value your insight and expertise in poetry—it is truly remarkable—and I am honored that my thoughts on your work are meaningful to you.

            • sorenbarrett

              Indeed they are.

            • arqios

              The cuts, the cuts that cut deep. They can be so haunting, scarring and dripping life away 🙏🏻🕊️

              • sorenbarrett

                Thank you Cryptic for the support and read. Indeed when young in the trade my skin was tender but with time it has grown tough and even a guillotine would only resurrect a soul. We all want a martyr's death

                • arqios

                  How true that thought, something dormant and still nascent but true nonetheless- the martyr wish/bent🙏🏻🕊️

                • Tristan Robert Lange

                  Soren, this is a stark reckoning with the cost of voice. You show how expression becomes target, how sincerity gets hunted under the guise of judgment. By the end, the sickness isn’t the poet…it’s the gaze searching for one. Very strong, my friend. Love it! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

                  • sorenbarrett

                    Thanks so much my friend your review is most appreciated. Your interpretation is most welcome and encouraging.

                    • Tristan Robert Lange

                      Yay! You are most welcome, Soren!

                    • Soman Ragavan

                      Indeed, there is danger in being a poet. The poet's power lies in his ability to wield words and languages. Physical weapons turn to rust with time. But the written words -- more so the words uploaded to the Internet -- never die... They cross where hard copies of books don't reach.

                      • sorenbarrett

                        Thank You Soman for the read and comment and its suggestion how the internet helps words spread. I am so glad for it or my words would never see the light of day and I worry that some day a solar flair may erase human history. Thank you again for the review

                      • orchidee

                        The only danger - or one of them - seems to me to be that 'plaguey' thing - plagiarising! But such ones won't survive poet's anger. lol.

                        • sorenbarrett

                          Thanks Orchi for the read. Yes that is the death sentence crime. Unfortunately just like any other crime many commit it and get away with it while a few poor souls are convicted and suffer the punishment.

                          • orchidee

                            It's enough to make us splutter over our cocoa - a guy even posted his own picture with a plaguey poem. Poets were furious!

                            • sorenbarrett

                              It seems in the nature of man to steal anything he can

                            • Teddy.15

                              An ode if ever I heard one, this is such a fun one 🤣 your first lines hilarious. 🌹

                              • sorenbarrett

                                Thanks so much Teddy I appreciate your read and most gracious review.

                              • Kevin Hulme

                                Yes those 'Slings and Arrows' etc. Well Said.

                                • sorenbarrett

                                  Thank you Kevin for your read and comment it is most appreciated

                                • NinjaGirl

                                  And being a poet certainly means being naked! But they say the pen is mightier than the sword, so when critics aim I suppose we continue.

                                  • sorenbarrett

                                    Thanks again my friend for your read of my poems. I deeply appreciate your reviews and comments

                                    • NinjaGirl

                                      Of course! As usual I enjoy your poetry!

                                      • sorenbarrett

                                        You are very kind



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