Fresh Fruit Rotten Hands

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

This poem employs a somber, meditative tone to explore themes of exploitation and disposability, using the metaphor of fruit to represent individuals or perhaps ideals sacrificed by political actors. The opening lines—“Shush... / once again / it is evening”—establish a quiet, reflective atmosphere, which is effective in setting up the gravity of the subject matter.

The transition from “small shadows” to “deep ones” is evocative, suggesting a movement from innocence or trivial concerns to more profound darkness, possibly alluding to the encroaching effects of political machinations. The metaphor of “immature / fruit” being “plucked from the tree / by greedy politicians / dispassionate hands” is clear and pointed, successfully conveying a sense of premature loss and the coldness of those responsible.

The imagery of “Gobbling flesh / juice bleeding, / a sieve through / broken fingers” is visceral and reinforces the violence and carelessness of the act. The choice to have the fruit’s remains “Toss[ed] away bruised rind / to rot and dry” extends the metaphor, emphasizing the waste and disregard for what is left behind.

The final lines—“Give it kick to the gutter... / maybe the fly's / will have some / use of it”—conclude with a note of cynicism and resignation. The misspelling of “fly’s” (should be “flies”) is distracting and disrupts the poem’s otherwise careful construction. The ellipsis and line breaks in the last stanza slow the pace, underlining the poem’s bleak conclusion.

Overall, the poem’s strengths lie in its consistent metaphor and its ability to evoke a mood of quiet devastation. The imagery is concrete and effective, though some lines could be tightened for clarity and rhythm. For example, “dispassionate hands” might be more powerful if integrated with the action rather than separated, and the enjambment in places feels arbitrary rather than purposeful. Attention to punctuation and spelling would also strengthen the poem’s impact. The poem’s political critique is clear, but it avoids didacticism by relying on sensory detail and metaphor rather than direct statement.

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Liked your poem. Politics and money  create rotten fruit!

Liked your poem. Politics and money  create rotten fruit!

Liked your poem. Politics and money  create rotten fruit!

Hello, Cat,

Strong message and imagery here.  It lends a profound feeling of disgust.

As far as the title - I don't know that I feel death quite as strongly as I feel a sense of filthy decaying and decomposing.  

Thank you!

L 

the title "Rotten Hands and Fresh Fruit"? ~ Geez.

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as always. I will come back to these two poems a little later, maybe tomorrow, but I will get back to them. Love ya too, ~ Geez.

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I did get back to it. and look at how it turned out! Holy chainsaw is right! Wow... what a difference, I love this one best of all; now that's what I'm talking about. ~ Geez.

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Congratulations on a well deserved win!

It sounds like you and I are equally disgusted with the current political BS.  At the risk of exposing my many biases, I just don't understand when we became so unkind, unthoughtful, uncaring, and so  willing to turn our backs on those less fortunate than us.  I'm pissed!

Again, congrats! - All my best, always. - Will

We all have to compensate for the issues at hand, it affects everything that we have and we feel. Our families, our friends, but especially our minds.I am happy for your win, you deserve it a lot! Great job!

Thank you for responding friend!

While the title grabs the attention the content itself shows the imagery of the current state of affairs. There is nothing more infuriating that watching this happen while alot of people suffer at the "rotten hands" of those who wield their power for their own benefit.

Excellent work.