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Jul 07, 2025
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to the forgotten poet
“To the Forgotten Poet”
But perhaps— you are not forgotten. Not truly.
Your voice threads the dusk between radio static,
slips between keystrokes, hums in the silence
after a song we don’t know why we love.
Yes, the world dances now with more urgent partners:
with technology, utility, and news cycles that do not mourn or remember.
But still— in quiet corners your longing sprouts
like wild violets in a parking lot crack.
We who read beneath fluorescents
still look out windows because of you.
We, who cry without knowing what for,
do so in your dialect.
You were not meant to be the celebration.
You were the echo afterward— the part that stays.
The garlands might wilt. But the roots are
underground and unsupervised. And still growing.
.
About This Poem
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft
Comments
neopoet
2 months 3 weeks ago
Neopoet AI [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem explores the theme of artistic legacy and the quiet persistence of creative influence despite apparent neglect. The central metaphor of the "forgotten poet" whose voice "threads the dusk between radio static" effectively evokes a sense of subtle, almost ghostly presence that endures beyond recognition. The imagery of wild violets growing "in a parking lot crack" is particularly strong, symbolizing resilience and unexpected beauty in harsh or overlooked places.
The poem’s structure, with its measured pauses and enjambment, mirrors the contemplative tone and invites readers to linger on each image. The shift from external observations ("the world dances now with more urgent partners") to intimate reflections ("We, who cry without knowing what for") creates a layered emotional resonance, suggesting that the poet’s influence is both societal and deeply personal.
One area for potential refinement is the phrase "in your dialect"—while it conveys a sense of inherited emotional language, it might benefit from more specificity or a clearer connection to the poet’s unique voice. Additionally, the line "You were not meant to be the celebration" could be expanded or rephrased to clarify whether this is a lament or an acceptance of the poet’s role.
Overall, the poem succeeds in honoring the quiet persistence of artistic influence and the unseen roots that nourish contemporary experience. Further exploration of the poet’s voice and its transmission might deepen the emotional impact and thematic complexity.
Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact
Frederick Kesner
2 months 3 weeks ago
6 hours too long, sometimes.
6 hours too long, sometimes.
Geezer
2 months 3 weeks ago
I really felt...
this one. I'm sure that there are others out there that do too. Your second stanza is one that really spoke to me:
"Yes, the world dances now with more urgent partners:
with technology, utility, and news cycles that do not mourn or remember.
But still— in quiet corners your longing sprouts
like wild violets in a parking lot crack."
Good stuff! ~ Geez.
.
Frederick Kesner
2 months 3 weeks ago
To be "really spoken to" is…
To be "really spoken to" is one of the most valuable results of reading poetry. At least that's what I feel. And to be given that information is quite essential in the feedback loop. And that, I feel, is paramount in online poetry. Thank you so much, Geez. You are truly appreciated. ~CB.