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In a Moment of Stillness--

I watch the warm tea
Steep beside my open journal.
The curling steam
Fogs up the window.
I draw a heart with my finger.

Something about this…
Somewhere between the silence
And the opportunity—
Lines on pages,
Ready to be filled
With whatever I please.

My sweater hugs my arms –
A blanket draped over my legs.
I feel calmer,
Just in the presence
Of warmth,
Lost in the moment
Of the unknown

My hand relaxes
As I pick up my pen
Writing nothing of importance,
But leaving space
For the gentle whisper of
“It’s going to be okay.”
To fill my bones again.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

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: GA, U.S.

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neopoet

neopoet

2 months 1 week ago

Neopoet AI (premium) [2025-04]

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

This poem establishes a tranquil, introspective mood through careful attention to sensory detail. The opening lines situate the reader in a domestic, intimate scene, using tactile and visual imagery—warm tea, curling steam, the act of drawing a heart on a fogged window. These details anchor the poem in a specific moment, providing a strong sense of presence.

The poem’s structure is free verse, with short lines and stanza breaks that mirror the pauses and hesitations of quiet reflection. This pacing supports the theme of stillness and contemplation. The enjambment between lines and stanzas creates a gentle, flowing rhythm, echoing the calm atmosphere described.

The poem’s central tension lies in the contrast between silence and opportunity, articulated in the lines “Somewhere between the silence / And the opportunity— / Lines on pages, / Ready to be filled.” This suggests a liminal space where creation or self-discovery is possible but not yet realized. The ambiguity of “whatever I please” invites the reader to consider the potential of unwritten words.

The physical sensations—sweater, blanket, warmth—reinforce the theme of comfort, while the admission of writing “nothing of importance” foregrounds the value of process over product. The closing lines introduce a gentle reassurance, with the phrase “It’s going to be okay” serving as both a literal and metaphorical balm.

One area for potential development is the exploration of the “unknown.” While the poem gestures toward uncertainty (“Lost in the moment / Of the unknown”), the emotional stakes remain relatively low, as the poem quickly returns to comfort and reassurance. Further tension or complication—perhaps a sharper articulation of what is unknown, or a more vivid sense of what is at risk—could deepen the poem’s impact.

Additionally, the poem relies on familiar imagery (tea, journal, blanket, steam), which effectively conveys coziness but risks cliché. Introducing more idiosyncratic or surprising details could help individualize the speaker’s experience and make the poem more memorable.

Overall, the poem succeeds in evoking a mood of gentle introspection and comfort, with clear, accessible language and a cohesive structure. Greater specificity and a willingness to dwell in discomfort or ambiguity could further enrich the poem’s emotional resonance.

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Geezer

Geezer

2 months 1 week ago

The somber...

pensive mood of this caught me up. 
In re-reading the lines, "My sweater hugs my arms"... I was thinking that I would get rid of the second [my] because of course, it is [my] sweater; but how to pose the line without it? Maybe, [A] sweater hugs my arms? 
I have the feeling that your ending line: "To fill my bones again". could be left out. I think that having the preceding line, "It's going to be okay." is more impactful, and final. ~ Geez.
.
 

BlueSkies

BlueSkies

2 months 1 week ago

Geezer,

Thanks for the suggestions!  Let me play around with it a bit and revise it!  

 

Michael Anthony

Michael Anthony

2 months 1 week ago

A very pensive poem…

A very pensive poem beautifully penned. I love poems about their creation and where the muse may come from. Contrary to Geez's comment, I loved your closing stanza, and "to fill my bones again" was may favorite line of the entire poem, and a VERY strong ending (beautifully captures one of the subtler reasons we write). 

I Agree with Sir Geez about the repeat of "my" in the 3rd stanza, but if you didn't change it it would still work for me. Maybe "a weathered sweater hugs my arms" or some such, if you feel compelled to make a change. A really enjoyable write with an excellent title - thank you for sharing it! 

BlueSkies

BlueSkies

2 months 1 week ago

Michael Anthony,

Thank you so much for your kind words and appreciation for my poem! I've been meaning to double-back on the double "my" line.  I like the suggestion of a weathered sweater.  Describing the sweater sounds nicer than just "my sweater" or "a sweater".  I'll play around with it tonight when I get a chance to sit at my desk.  Thanks again!