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part savage, part human

A raw and redemptive,
jagged lullaby wrapped
in grit and grace.

Confronting primal origins
of beauty, tracing how chaos,
trauma, and history's rough edges
are not just background noise,

but the very instruments
in life’s symphony.
Pain isn’t just a prelude to joy—
it’s part of the composition.

This poem, insistent:
what is beautiful isn’t
in spite of the brokenness,
but because of it.

That’s where its power hits hardest—
where rock and roll meets requiem,
and we stand, animal, mostly human,
made whole through noise and nerve.

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About This Poem

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: West Moreton, AUS

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

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

2 months 3 weeks ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem explores the complex interplay between pain, beauty, and human nature with a compelling thematic focus. The central metaphor of life as a symphony, where chaos and trauma serve as instruments rather than mere background, effectively challenges conventional narratives that separate suffering from beauty. This conceptual framing invites readers to reconsider the value of brokenness and imperfection.

The language is evocative and layered, with phrases like "jagged lullaby wrapped in grit and grace" and "where rock and roll meets requiem" blending contrasting images that reinforce the poem’s tension between rawness and refinement. These juxtapositions enrich the texture and emotional resonance.

Structurally, the poem’s free verse form allows for a natural flow that mirrors the thematic fluidity between savage and human elements. The line breaks often emphasize key ideas, such as “Pain isn’t just a prelude to joy— / it’s part of the composition,” which foregrounds the poem’s philosophical assertion.

One area for potential refinement is the balance between abstraction and specificity. While the poem’s ideas are powerful, incorporating more concrete imagery or narrative detail could deepen the reader’s engagement by grounding the themes in tangible experience. For example, expanding on what “noise and nerve” look or feel like in a particular moment might enhance the emotional impact.

Additionally, the poem’s tone is declarative and meditative, which suits the subject matter, but varying the rhythm or introducing moments of tension or surprise could heighten dynamism and prevent any risk of didacticism.

Overall, the poem succeeds in articulating a nuanced vision of beauty intertwined with brokenness, using metaphor and language that invite thoughtful reflection. Further development might focus on enriching sensory detail and rhythmic variation to amplify its affective power.

Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact

Geezer

Geezer

2 months 3 weeks ago

I'm thinking...

 that I would delete one of the two [A's] in the first lines. I would make it the second one. ~ Geez.

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