Roadkill (an eddy styx poem)

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

This poem uses a minimalist structure and a gradual vertical descent to convey its narrative and emotional arc. The opening lines establish a quiet, observational tone, situating the speaker in a liminal space—dawn, walking, highway—where encounters with death (roadkill) are both mundane and jarring. The intrusion of the young man photographing dead animals introduces a layer of mediation between the observer and the observed, suggesting themes of voyeurism, documentation, or perhaps a fascination with mortality.

The abrupt shift to “thought of HER…” injects a personal, possibly romantic or nostalgic element, though the referent remains ambiguous. This ambiguity invites multiple interpretations: is the speaker reminded of someone by the scene, or is the act of observing itself reminiscent of a past relationship?

The poem’s most striking formal choice is the vertical arrangement of the word “thread,” which visually mimics the described drool. This typographical play foregrounds the physical, even animalistic, response of the speaker, contrasting with the earlier, more detached observation. The drool could signify hunger, desire, or a loss of composure, complicating the poem’s emotional register.

The poem’s brevity and fragmentation mirror the fleeting, disjointed experience of encountering death and memory in a banal setting. However, the connection between the roadkill, the young man, “HER,” and the speaker’s drool remains opaque. If the intention is to evoke a sense of dislocation or to satirize the speaker’s own reactions, the poem succeeds in unsettling the reader, though some may find the associative leaps too abrupt to fully cohere.

Consider clarifying the emotional or narrative link between the observed scene and the speaker’s reaction, or further developing the motif of mediation (photography, memory, bodily response) to strengthen the poem’s thematic unity. The visual experimentation is effective, but the poem’s impact may benefit from a more explicit articulation of the speaker’s internal state or the significance of “HER.”

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

this one perfectly! Of course, it may be that I know you and eddy so well, but it is a great piece from one of my favorite characters here. Loved the thrreeaad of drooool. ~ Geez.

.

Is fantastic...the drool did it for me...love this so much.

This is what I've come to expect from Mr. styx. This is one of his best. I agree with RoseBlack: The drool did me in.

Congrats! Great poem, a worthy win!

Think of that next time you're petting kitttys

rotf

Loved this one,

Mark

A touching piece and not to detract from your artwork but please explain the intriguing denouement your "drooling" I guess some exhibition of deep emotion here as I know you love animals and have a deeply sensitive heart xxx

Well done in your win dear friend