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At War

I had to write this out
It was bouncing
Off the walls of
My mind

Fear makes me
Into an elevator
Stuck on the
Lower level

You must think
I am a park bench
That drunks use
As their summer home

I am just fighting
A war that would
Make your worries
into action figures

Next time you say
Calm down
Know that I’m
In the middle
Of war and my
Only weapon is
A flare gun

So Mr. General
Come relieve
This soldier
That didn’t sign up
For this war

About This Poem

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: New York, USA

Favorite Poets: Cavafi, Sylvia Plath and Neopoet as a whole.

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neopoet

neopoet

11 months ago

Neopoet AI (premium) - 5-29-23 version

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:

The poem "At War" presents a vivid exploration of internal struggle, using metaphoric language to convey the speaker's emotional state. The use of imagery is strong, particularly in lines like "You must think / I am a park bench / That drunks use / As their summer home" and "A war that would / Make your worries / into action figures". These lines effectively communicate the speaker's feelings of being used and trivialized.

However, the poem could benefit from a more consistent use of metaphor. The transition from the metaphor of the elevator to the park bench to the war is somewhat abrupt and can be confusing for the reader. It might be more effective to choose one metaphor and develop it throughout the poem, allowing for a more coherent and in-depth exploration of the theme.

The line "So Mr. General / Come relieve / This soldier / That didn’t sign up / For this war" is a strong ending, as it directly addresses the reader and places them in the role of a potential savior. However, it might be more impactful if the poem built up to this appeal more gradually, perhaps by introducing the military metaphor earlier in the poem and developing it throughout.

Lastly, the poem could benefit from a more varied use of poetic devices. While the use of metaphor is strong, the poem lacks other devices such as rhyme, rhythm, and alliteration that could enhance its musicality and emotional impact. Consider experimenting with these devices to add another layer of complexity to the poem.

Please send feedback about Neo (our computer generated critique system) to https://www.neopoet.com/contact

Geezer

Geezer

11 months ago

The war...

is something that most of us fight in some measure everyday.
The metaphors of being stuck in an elevator, and being stuck in a war,
lets this piece show how frustrating the battles are.
I'm not sure that the park bench stanza is germaine to the poem, and adds anything to it.
Maybe try another metaphor?
~ Geez.
.