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Crooked Luck

Oh, how easy it is
To fold the cards
Life handed you

We were not made
For well-lit roads
No, we thrive
In the furnace
Of our fears

Not taking
On the odds
Is foreign to
Those that
Dance to
The sound
Of courage

Ignore the noise
Grow by taking in
The silence
That kills
Joy slowly

Pick up your cards
Look in fear’s eyes
As your heart screams,
"Don’t break me," tell it
Be still—this is not
Our first night
In a room where
The sun has been
Exiled to darkness

Now I ask you:
Do you fold
Or raise the
Odds in a game
Of crooked luck?

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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Comments

neopoet

neopoet

10 months 1 week ago

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

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

The poem "Crooked Luck" presents a compelling exploration of courage, fear, and resilience in the face of adversity. It uses metaphors and imagery effectively to convey its themes and emotions.

However, there are areas where the poem could be improved. For instance, the line "Grow by taking in/The silence/That kills/Joy slowly" is somewhat ambiguous. It could be clarified to ensure that the intended message is effectively communicated to the reader.

The poem also lacks a consistent rhythm or rhyme scheme, which can make it feel disjointed. If this was the intended effect, it could be beneficial to emphasize this disjointedness more to make it clear that it is a deliberate choice rather than an oversight.

Lastly, the question at the end of the poem, "Do you fold/Or raise the/Odds in a game/Of crooked luck?" is a powerful conclusion. However, it might be more impactful if the stakes of this "game" were made clearer earlier in the poem. This would give the reader a better understanding of what is at risk and make the final question more poignant.

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

Rula

Rula

10 months 1 week ago

Yes!

Love the theme and language use.
Needn't to say the metaphor has been effectively used.

Geezer

Geezer

10 months 1 week ago

Deal me in...

While reading this, I felt as though I was watching 'Life'
deal from the bottom of the deck. "Crooked Luck" is an apt title.
This piece is telling it like it is, telling us that you cannot play the game without taking chances and betting on the hidden cards.

I would switch the second stanza with the third, as I feel that the taking on of odds continues with the theme of gambling.
I'm feeling like the lines describing the conversation between heart and oneself should be shorter and more to the point,
"Be still, this is not our first night of darkness, locked away."
The last stanza asks a crucial question, take no chances and no gains, or push all the chips to the pot? Good stuff. ~ Geez.
.