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The Empty Chair

I sat across
from the empty chair
last night.
We were celebrating
Faye's birthday,
all of us.
All five of us, that is.

The Club was great.
The food was good.
The company,
Well,
do I have to tell you!
I kept staring
at the empty chair
across from me,
with the table settings removed.
He may no longer be here
but looking at his daughters
and their strength of character,
the wonderful men in their lives,
his hand is present.

The bond of sisterhood.
The tight friendship and support
which they displayed
and continue to demonstrate
always moves me.
That is when I know and understand
that the chair may be empty
but his spirit lives in them.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: The five of us when out last night to celebrate Faye's birthday. The RACV Club in Melbourne was a wonderful setting and the car ride home was great. so glad we did it. These are the moments that count.

Review Request Direction: How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?

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

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Country/Region: VIC

Favorite Poets: Dorothea McKellar, Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

2 months 2 weeks ago

Neopoet AI - version 2.0

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

The poem "The Empty Chair" effectively conveys a sense of loss and remembrance through the imagery of an empty chair at a celebration. The use of the empty chair as a symbol of absence is poignant and evocative. The poem captures the bittersweet emotions of missing someone who is no longer physically present but whose spirit is felt through the presence and actions of loved ones.

One suggestion for improvement would be to further explore the emotions and memories associated with the person who is being remembered. Providing specific details or anecdotes about the individual could help to create a more vivid and personal connection for the reader. Additionally, considering the use of varied poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, or sensory imagery could enhance the depth and impact of the poem.

Overall, "The Empty Chair" effectively conveys a heartfelt message about the enduring presence of a loved one despite their physical absence. Expanding on the personal connection and incorporating more poetic devices could further enrich the emotional resonance of the poem.

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

Geezer

Geezer

2 months 2 weeks ago

I feel...

you would have to rewrite the whole poem in order to do as the AI has said. Maybe you might try to do that, using this one as the basis for the newer edition? Not that this one is bad, just that you could do it differently and maybe wring some more emotion from it. I don't know, just something you could try. I enjoyed the conversational tone, as though you were writing a letter, or in a journal, the pace was just right. ~ Geez.
.

Geezer

Geezer

2 months 2 weeks ago

Maybe...

work on making the lines stand out by spacing them as though they were lines spoken in a play. I don't think that you can improve that much, you have done a pretty good job with this. ~ Geez.
.