Join the Neopoet online poetry workshop and community to improve as a writer, meet fellow poets, and showcase your work. Sign up, submit your poetry, and get started.

Diary

Diary

Dear Diary
Nobody knows what Hell I go through each day
Except you
You alone are my tower of strength
You alone are on my wavelength

Dear Diary
Everyone believes they can turn me around
But only you can
Just you alone will save me from myself
You alone have been there yourself

Your 'Dear Diary' I will become
Break you from the desire for Rum
Your 'Dear Diary' I have become
Break your cycle and craving to run

Your 'Dear Diary' I have become
Break you from the craving to run
Your 'Dear Diary' I will become
Break your cycle and desire for Rum

Dear Diary
No one knows what Hell I go through every day
Except you
Just you alone are my shining knight
You alone understand my plight

Dear Diary
Everybody believes they can turn me around
But only you can
You alone will deliver me from my disdain
You alone have felt this strain

© 2011 hoodedstranger.com

About This Poem

Last Few Words: This is written for and dedicated to Rosina (xena465) - regards - HS

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - draft

About the Author

Region, Country: West England, GBR

Favorite Poets: Sylvia Plath (poet), Caitlin Mattison/Eddy Styx (poet 'candlewitch'), Enda Collins (poet 'ziggy'), Martin Gore (lyricist for Depeche Mode), Neil Tennant (lyricist for Pet Shop Boys), Stefan Großmann (lyricist for Absurd Minds), Lemmy Kilmister (lyricist for Motörhead), Nathan Reiner (lyricist for Third Realm), Wayne Hussey (lyricist for The Mission), Leonard Cohen (lyricist), Tom Shear (lyricist for Assemblage 23), Clint Carney (lyricist for System Syn & Fake), Ronan Harris (lyricist for VNV Nation), Aaron Lewis (lyricist for Staind), Jason Charles Miller (lyricist for Godhead), Torben Wendt (lyricist for Diorama), Adrian Hates (lyricist for Diary Of Dreams)

More from this author

Comments

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Ian

Ian,

many thanks for reading the poem and commenting. I always look forward to your views.

Whilst writing this I was caught in three minds:

1. the diary is actually another person who they write to, to share their problems with, rather than physically writing into a diary.

2. the diary was actually themselves in the mirror.

3. Or it simply was a real diary.

I felt all three ideas worked and whilst writing I kept swinging between to the ideas.

There is also a more personal level to this piece that hopefully is clear in that I dedicated it to Rosina. There are specific reasons behind that dedication...but I hope it also works as a more generic piece that all can relate to.

Many thanks for your time my friend,

regards,

HS

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Yenti

Yenti,

will you be posting the write you wrote this morning?...I would love to read it.

I think Rosina's full Latin name for the rat is Raticus Zacharious...Lol!...Zak to friends.

Zak is a Black-Hooded Rat...so Rosina now has her own little 'Hooded Stranger' to protect her.

regards,

HS

lou

lou

14 years 5 months ago

HS

It is a very well written and sad poem.

Lou

lou

lou

14 years 5 months ago

I'm Back LOL !!

I can tell you have tried to write this poem from Xena's point of view, and the feminity comes through. ( must be your femine side lol !!).

The poem is obviously a cry for help. I for one can understand that compulsion.

The only gripe I have with the poem, is the repeatition of dear diary, i feel you could cut some of those out.

Otherwise a good poem.

lou

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Lou

Lou,

the poem is written from the viewpoint of the one writing the diary. I wouldn't say it was a cry for help, but more an understanding that not everybody can help you, but "I am safe with my diary", who is the one I lean on in times of need.

As to what or who the diary is...that is left open, deliberatly, for each reader to decide upon.

Repetitive 'Dear Diary'...maybe...I'll give it some thought.

Thanks for reading and commenting...twice!...Lol!

HS

Frederick Kesner

Frederick Kesner

14 years 5 months ago

HS,

My reception of this particular poem is a mixed bag. Maybe the main reason being my tumultuous career as a diarist... failed and aborted many times over the years. That may reflect of the poor self image of youth blended with the distinct and roiling abhorrence toward structure and being encased within the norms and regulations of human conventions. I remember with fondness though many a diary shared with us... like that of Adrian Mole, Anne Frank, so on and so forth... A few years ago, many years after I left home to live my life, my mother happened upon several of my diary books. And of course she began reading through them and marvelled (her words) at how she did not know me then and how much was running through my mind and heart. How strange that I did not care about the intrusion into my then privacy. I once had a diary in the form of a friend... but that is not a reliable type of diary... people change and they are subject to so many factors that make them unsuitable to keeping one's secrets. I don't look in a mirror except to tidy my hair, as quickly as possible. And the actual diary, well... I still struggle for most of the year to sit down and write/type diary entries. Maybe they filter into the poems..... Having said all that... I suppose the diary is a witness of our daily existence, validating our experiences and emotions. In one form or another we rely on this sounding board of the soul. How easy it is for us humans to wear our heart on our online page/social network. And that for the reasons stated in your poem. It is entirely human and needful.

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

CB

CB,

firstly many thanks for taking time out to read and then comment on my posting.

I have never used a diary to enter my own records, I have never felt the need. My poetry, is more like my diary. I can read my work and remember what actions/feelings/emotions caused me to write the poem. Not all my work is about me but the majority are.

You talk about your Mother finding your diaries and 'of course' began to read them. That opens a train of thought about 'trust'. They were your diaries...had you wanted them shared, you would have done so. Anyway, I guess you didn't have an issue about them, but I assume many others would have with their mothers reading their private thoughts.

I fully understand your comment "is a witness of our daily existence, validating our experiences and emotions"...and like I said, I feel my poetry/lyrics are my 'document' of my existence. I don't share all my writings, many are very personal and written for me and my eyes only.

A friend as a diary?...that really depends on the relationship you have with that friend and of course the risk there, is how they change throughout life and how the relationship develops. I agree, there is an element of risk with that.

As I read your detailed comment...I slowly decided that the 'Mirror' is the option for me. I am my own Diary!

Thanks for helping me to come to that conclusion.

Cheers mate,

HS

Pixee

Pixee

14 years 5 months ago

Me, Pixee

I really loved your poem. It was written in such
true anguish. I know that He is the only one
that CAN help you. Lean on Him and all of
your troubles will be gone. A truly wonderful
write. Keep up the wonderful penning!!

Your Friend,

Pixee

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

You, Pixee

Dear Pixee,

I wonder who your 'He; is...I haven't really given that away with my write...I wanted everybody to choose their own receiver of the diary entries.

You'll see from an earlier comment I had three ideas about this. I am still unsure which way I intend for it to fall upon, but the mirror seems a good option...since I am happier working things out myself...I prefer my own solitude and wouldn't be keen on sharing my inner feelings with anybody else.

Also this is dedicated to Rosina for specific reasons...so to add to my complications...I actually have four potential beneficiaries for the diary entires!!

kindest regards,

HS

Pixee

Pixee

14 years 5 months ago

P.S. Pixee

How do you get your poem under the name of comment. Mine always
comes undeer edit. Thank you for your time.

Pixee

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Pixee

Pixee,

when I submit my poem/lyric I include the title at the top of the body of the poem as well as using it as the title under the 'View & Edit' tabs . Is that what you mean?

regards,

HS

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

14 years 5 months ago

Dear Bro,

Dear Diary
Everybody believes they can turn me around
But only you can
You alone will deliver me from my disdain
You alone have felt this strain

I find the concept of "Dear Diary" very intriguing. This feels like something new for you. Pardon my suggestion, but I think you should end the piece with these as the last lines. As the rest feels a bit forced. On the whole, I really liked this piece very much.

love, Cat

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Cat

Cat,

This isn't my usual style at all, but I fancied trying something a little different.

It's a shame that you say the rest of the lines feels forced except for the stanza you highlighted. Wow! that's a lot of forced lines! I'll take that thought away and see what can done to the other lines.

You could be right with the stanza you mentioned being the final stanza...if so I would removed my last stanza as that is written more as an outro and wouldn't fit the other stanza's.

You've left me a lot of work to do!! Lol!

many thanks for reading my friend,

kind regards,

HS

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

14 years 5 months ago

Dear Dan,

I think I have miss communicated. I thought only the last two lines felt forced. Sorry for that misconception.

love, Cat

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Cat

Cat,

Lol!, I so dearly re-wrote the whole thing...just for you!!

I have dropped those last lines and I agree it works better,

thanks mate,

HS

R

raj

14 years 5 months ago

Dear Dan..

i liked the personification of a Diary in this write and making it an object and subject of your reflection and conversation ...

warmly...

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Raj

Raj,

glad you liked it.

I only decided for definite it was a reflection after posting it and reading a comment from Crypticbard.

I am going to re-look at this as Cat has pointed out the rhyming feels forced. This may need a complete re-write, but I always like a challenge. I may also drop the final stanza completely. Not quite sure yet.

Thanks for dropping by and commenting,

kind regards,

HS

Z

ziggy

14 years 5 months ago

hi hood

this is not the type of poem someone can write without having
made the effort to get to know the person behind it,
this is a different style but to come out of your comfort zone
for a friend is great to see, I do really like it, as it shows the
person behind the theme,
" Dear Diary
Everybody believes they can turn me around
But only you can
You alone will deliver me from my disdain
You alone have felt this strain"

the first line above that I quoted says more than the sum of it words
a fantastic line I believe, and i feel that the piece might benefit
from ending on this line " you alone have felt the strain "
nice one hood ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,zigs

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Zigs

Zigs,

It wasn't an easy write, but I have got to know Rosina really well and I just wanted to write something that was for her. She liked it so much that she was happy for me to post it.

I will do as you and also Cat have suggested and make the last line of the poem "you alone have felt this strain".

I will probably now drop completely the original final stanza.

Thanks to yours and Cat comments I hope this piece will feel more rounded off now. I have also made some minor changes suggested by Lou.

Thanks for the read and suggestions,

HS

Z

ziggy

14 years 5 months ago

hi hood

yes I like your reasons for writing and posting this
rosina is a good sort and has a good friend in you
as we all do, I like the changes you have made
it reads better nice work hood ,,,,,,,,,,,,zigs

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Ziggy

Zigs,

I have now removed that last stanza. It does seem better now. I just need to pin Cat down to get some more detail on which lines she thinks might need a tweak.

Glad you approve of the revisions,

Cheers,

HS

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

14 years 5 months ago

Dear Rosi,

Thanks for shedding more light on this unusual but good piece. It helps the reader to understand the origins of the work. I'm so very glad to read that Dan is there for you, as he has been for many, me and my husband, Steve included. I know that some good has come of the sharing of our similar sufferings. I remain a fan and friend (not to mention a critic)of both you and Dan and your work.

love, Cat

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Rosina

Rosina,

thanks for your comment - I will respond to it via email for obvious reasons.

I am just sorry it received some damning comments when it was done for the right reasons.

I am glad to have you as my friend.

regards,

Dan

O

Orphani

14 years 5 months ago

With all due respect to

With all due respect to Rosina, and to Dan who I'm sure was trying to be a friend and be supportive. I find this poem to be rather narcissistic and simplistic with as much depth as a 3rd grade report card. Why do I say this? Firstly the poem isn't so much about Rosina as it is about Dan--who both he and Rosina say is the "diary". Here's what the diary has to say about itself, or rather what Dan has to say about himself (and to me it's just bad poetry--trite self-glorification). Virtually every line, with a few exceptions does nothing but extol the virtues of himself as the diary. There is in fact only minimal references to anything else. This is no dedication to Rosina,but only a thinly veiled egotistical pat on the back to the writer. Anyone has but to read it to find those truths apparent. So why write this ? Why spoil the party? Because it's the truth. And bad poetry shouldn't piggyback on the emotion of its circumstances. Where's the depth in this piece? In what line or lines? It's shallow. And Rosina's condition isn't going to make it a better poem. And the self glorification is abhorrent, and especially hypocritical coming from one who detests egotists. I apologize for my insensitivity,but if we judge the poetry on Neo because of the need of the writer for excessive positive reinforcement we are not doing the poet a service. It's rather a disservice. A good poet knows a timely slap in the face is worth a thousand hand shakes, and I only hope this can start a vastly overdue discussion on this and other neglected topics on Neo before the site degenerates into a feel-good forum only. I don't need the rumor mill to say what I have to.

B

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Orphani

Orphani,

whilst writing this piece, I was in various minds of who or what the diary is. If I am the Diary, then it is extremely egotistic...but it was just me playing with the concept of a 'Dear Diary'. I liked the idea of the diary being the reflection of the diary writer...who actually is dealing with the issues themselves, and not needing another.

The dear diary idea came from Rosina, as she has mentioned above - hence the dedication...a harmless one. She can also be the one looking in the mirror helping herself, or writing in her diary to a person in her imagination.

Personally, your comment has probably done more damage to Rosina than you'll ever know. You apologise for your insentivity - no apology required for me or my ego...but I would assume your acknowledgment of insentivity means you will contact Rosina and apologise appropriately.

I have no issue with you commenting your thoughts on the poem itself, but don't judge me as an individual, its a poetry workshop.

You claim I detest egotists - maybe you have come to that judgement by reading my work 'egotistic'...who is to say that, that particular piece is or isn't about me?

Many thanks for dropping by, reading and commenting,

kind regards,

HS

lou

lou

14 years 5 months ago

Orphani

I think you are being unfair, i know that HS wrote this poem with the best intensions.

I think to write a lengthy and scathing comment, such as this is both unkind and unnecessary. After all who are you serving by writing in such a way, if you wanted to be helpful, and give what you see as constructive criticism, you went the wrong way about it, because all you have done is insult, a decent person.

lou

K

Kailashana2

14 years 5 months ago

I've lived long enough to

I've lived long enough to bear witness to the fact that the only person we ever fool is ourselves. In unmasking who we really are, we add layers of personality--emotion, acceptance as well as rejection in the drama that is life, and so become better human beings....better poets, with the ability to entertain and *handle* different viewpoints.

I however, can not prove it, it's something that is learned while living through our facades.

~A

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Yenti

Yenti,

I really enjoyed the Raticus...perfect!

HS

K

Kailashana2

14 years 5 months ago

True enough Xena, and like

True enough Xena, and like the Dean Martin sang: "everybody needs somebody sometime". And since we're individuals and none of us know what happens behind the scenes at Neopoet via p.m's (or the rumor mill), we can only draw our conclusions from the poetry written.

A diary is a book of thoughts and feelings kept by an individual, usually under lock and key, when one is a youth. However, as we grow up, we sublimate and swallow our feelings until they literally depress us. Friendship is the best, but a good friend will know where his/her limits are and a poet will show you to the door.....the tiger or the lady, (so to speak.)

My best wishes for everyone, we all have our ego-centricities... it's what makes us who we are and who we are not. The enlightening thing is that we are so much more than that.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

~A.

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

14 years 5 months ago

Seren

Seren,

I had given up reading comments here as I have been hung drawn and quartered over this concept poem/lyric I tried. I like to try different things and this was a little different for me, from the writing aspect, the different layers of what the Diary is/was and also the motivation that inspired the poem and it's dedication.

Dear Diary was originally dropped from the chorus section, but at some point it dropped back in. I think a re-working of the chorus without the repetition would help it...but truth be told...I have lost my motivation to work on this one...especially within Neopoet.

It got some great reviews and constructive critique on other poetry sites and especially in ones that have specific lyric sections. The repeating in the chorus was mentioned too!

I know you are busy, so don't spend anytime on this one...it has moved on and I might just delete it from here anyway.

In fact the whole critique process I received on this one has actually been of some major benefit to me...I have found two other poetry/lyric sites that are really good and have lyric sections...Neopoet is no longer my home, just a drop in centre.

Glad to see you back by the way.

kind regards,

HS

Candlewitch

Candlewitch

14 years 5 months ago

*tears

".Neopoet is no longer my home, just a drop in centre."

love, Sis

p.s.

I shall not forget