Frederick Kesner

Member since August 16, 2007

Member for 18 years, 9 months

advocate member new member Founding Member

245 Poems

953 Comments

11 Followers

Most recent

breast-pocket

Posted Jun 7, 2026 · 43 lines · 2 critiques

"breast-pocket"

At a small table, an older woman
draws a bamboo toothpick from the breast‑pocket
of her frock, works with practiced care,
wipes it clean with a sheet from her thigh pocket,
then slips it back as the talk continues.

___

A couple on the path, mid‑argument
over something already fading,
their steps carrying them toward the pond.
Above them, the same woman, younger now,
on the second‑floor balcony,

Read the rest of the poem Show less

hand rising toward her breast‑pocket,
stopping, then calling down with a tone
that reaches the lawn with ease.
He fires back without looking up,
the moment tightening, then thinning out.

#

A child at the pond’s edge,
older boys in the water,
their shouts carrying across the surface.
Shoes off, shirt open,
the child stands between caution and invitation.
From the balcony, a small motion
travels the distance.

___

Years later, a sidewalk café.
An older man finishes his meal,
reaches into the breast‑pocket of his shirt,
draws out a bamboo toothpick,
and works with the same steady rhythm
he has carried through decades.

His grandchild arrives, bright and curious.
Beside them, another figure —
middle‑aged now — lifts a hand
to their own breast‑pocket,
feeling a toothpick beneath its fabric,
the gesture settling in without voice.

.

Frederick Kesner’s timeline

June 2026
08 Mon

Received a critique
on breast-pocket from @Lavender
"Hello, CB, I love how ordinary, material "things" reveal the human experience. The activity within this feels almost like a dance - precisely choreographed to help the reader observe the actions of the individuals, and…"
07 Sun

Posted a poem
breast-pocket
" "
Open thread 43 lines
05 Fri

Critiqued
"Learning Bicycle" by @Sen99
"A truly fun read here. Never had an accident on my bicycle except once three years of so after when the front wheel went into a pothole and sent me flying. No other spills besides that."
05 Fri

Received a critique
on the baron declares from @Sen99
"A dry, amusing poem about a famous baron with delusions of greatness"
04 Thu

Posted a poem
the baron declares
" "
Open thread 32 lines
03 Wed

Received a critique
on architraval shadow from @Geezer
"way to introduce someone to the art of architecture! I just had to go look to see if there was in fact a word or word usage. This reminded me of a Greek or Roman amphitheater or temple; at least as I picture them. Funny…"
02 Tue

Posted a poem
architraval shadow
" "
Open thread 24 lines
01 Mon

New follower
@patrickgadoury
01 Mon

Critiqued
"The Frenglishman" by @patrickgadoury
"Loving the language play here. And to 'bleed before language has a say,' now there is a punch of a line! "Do we nod bleed!" a great playwright once wrote. This feels personal and existential like a multilingual raison d…"
01 Mon

Received a critique
on dutch revisions from @patrickgadoury
"This is expert language play. I have been working on similar themes and constructions, and yet this feels sharp and finished to me. It feels like something carved from your experiences. Humanity translated."
01 Mon

Posted a poem
dutch revisions
" "
Open thread 30 lines
May 2026
31 Sun

Critiqued
"Stargazers in Awe" by @Wallyroo92
"Last night was stepped outside in the chilly autumn air to witnessed what was meant to have been the last blue micro-moon for a while. Perhaps the moon was meant to be at its farthest apogee from earth. Fortunately, bec…"
31 Sun

Critiqued
"I Remember It Happening Kindly" by @Wallyroo92
"sometime ago, I re-watched Casablanca after being inspired to write a poem about one of its famous (misquoted) lines, "Play it again, Sam" (sic) as you aptly remarked "why not quote it and remember it kindly." In my cas…"
31 Sun

Received a critique
on sanctuary from @Wallyroo92
"You really have a keen eye for capturing these moments in a serene manner, almost spiritual, which I guess it's why you titled it sanctuary. It reminds us to pause and watch for the little things the universe offers bef…"
31 Sun

Received a critique
on cross-current morning from @Wallyroo92
"For some reason as I'm reading this, things seemed to move in a slow motion, capturing those little moments that otherwise no one else would notice. Maybe it's my imagination going, picturing the character in a black he…"
31 Sun

Contest commendation
05/26 My First Time

with "a small dismissal".
30 Sat

Posted a poem
cross-current morning
" "
Open thread 21 lines
30 Sat

Received a critique
on bemusedly ruminating from @Wallyroo92
""Yesterdays revive severed umbilical dreams." I really liked this line, it's like bringing up the past. I also liked the way you structured this, with that rhythmic and visual aesthetic. Excellent work. (And congrats on…"
30 Sat

Received a critique
on bemusedly ruminating from @Wallyroo92
""Yesterdays revive severed umbilical dreams." I really liked this line, it's like bringing up the past. I also liked the way you structured this, with that rhythmic and visual aesthetic. Excellent work. (And congrats on…"
29 Fri

Posted a poem
sanctuary
"“sanctuary”"
Open thread 21 lines
28 Thu

Posted a poem
leafy dapples
" "
Open thread 10 lines
27 Wed

Posted a poem
voices
"The voice of regret "
Open thread 5 lines
25 Mon

Posted a poem
birdwing dawn
" "
Open thread 29 lines
24 Sun

Posted a poem
workshop on the hill
""workshop on the hill""
Open thread 74 lines
22 Fri

Critiqued
"Cowboy" by @Lavender
"Likewise. And you are most welcome, L. CB"
22 Fri

Posted a poem
jeong
"jeong"
Open thread 45 lines
22 Fri

Critiqued
"Cowboy" by @Lavender
"Quite a highlight read, so much in the moment and stretches it out in the reading even if it was a short poem. Most thoroughly enjoyed🕊️🙏"
22 Fri

Critiqued
"Gone Unnoticed " by @RJ Bear
"Glad that you found the work around that suited your purpose. Your reading it aloud has made the poem sing its soul. This makes me happy. 🕊️🙏"
21 Thu

Posted a poem
valise
" "
Open thread 31 lines
21 Thu

Critiqued
"Gone Unnoticed " by @RJ Bear
"The language use is one of the strongest aspects of the poem. The imagery is simple but carefully chosen: “Dust would settle on the things once held,” “A scratch on a surface that’s easily buffed out,” and “A life writt…"
15 Fri

Highest posting month
May 2026 — 26 poems
07 Thu

New follower
@BlueBerry
April 2026
30 Thu

Contest commendation
04/26 April Fooled

with "bemusedly ruminating".
28 Tue

New follower
@JoeyRoberts2028
27 Mon

New follower
@paul
July 2025
31 Thu

Contest commendation
07/25 Renovated Quill

with "morning psalm".
31 Thu

First contest commendation
07/25 Renovated Quill

with the poem "morning psalm".
August 2022
15 Mon

Anniversary
15 years of membership
August 2017
15 Tue

Anniversary
10 years of membership
August 2012
15 Wed

Anniversary
5 years of membership
March 2011
06 Sun

Posting milestone
100 poems posted
November 2010
23 Tue

Most-discussed work
Looking out the kitchen window

24 critiques to date.
August 2008
15 Fri

Anniversary
One year of membership
January 2008
26 Sat

First critique offered
on "Revolving Echoes" by @purplemoondoll
23 Wed

First publication
From Swords to Plowshares
August 2007
15 Wed

Joined Neopoet
Membership begins

First poem published 160 days later.

About Me

About me

…a writer who started on the quiet side of things.
Early on, speaking felt harder than shaping a line, so the page became the place where thoughts could land cleanly. That history still lingers, but it doesn’t define the work.

What I write now comes from paying attention to the small moments that pass too quickly unless someone pauses. If you read along, thank you for meeting the work with patience and curiosity.

Location: West Moreton, AUS

Favorite Poets

There is nothing quite as boring as a life completely devoid of shadows.

I am because we are

Contest Wins

This member has not yet won any contests.

on breast-pocket from @Lavender

"Learning Bicycle" by @Sen99

on the baron declares from @Sen99

on architraval shadow from @Geezer

"The Frenglishman" by @patrickgadoury

on dutch revisions from @patrickgadoury

"Stargazers in Awe" by @Wallyroo92

"I Remember It Happening Kindly" by @Wallyroo92

on sanctuary from @Wallyroo92

on cross-current morning from @Wallyroo92

on bemusedly ruminating from @Wallyroo92

on bemusedly ruminating from @Wallyroo92

"Cowboy" by @Lavender

"Cowboy" by @Lavender

"Gone Unnoticed " by @RJ Bear

"Gone Unnoticed " by @RJ Bear

May 2026 — 26 poems

15 years of membership

10 years of membership

5 years of membership

100 poems posted

One year of membership

on "Revolving Echoes" by @purplemoondoll

Membership begins

About Me

Recent Work

Contest Wins

Workshops

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