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Grief's Heart...

Gone but not forgotten
I still remember you
My heart is full of pain
Things you used to do

Grief is like a blanket
Or a cashmere sweater
They never go away
Somehow, you wear them better

The day will come, I'm sure
When you do not see their face
When you discover that it's true
Hang your head in sad disgrace

It was supposed to be forever
I remember that
I see the things he wore
There's his woolen hat

We have to go on living
Though it feels like such a trial
But if it were you, would you want
Them to mourn, forever and a while?

Hold them in your heart
Put away your sorrow
Laugh and play in the rain
Have a good tomorrow

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
What did you think of my title?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
Last few words: 
Did a little edit, the sweater and hat now have more substance.
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content
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Comments

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

The poem "Grief's Heart" presents a poignant exploration of loss and the process of grieving. The use of metaphors, such as "Grief is like a blanket" and "Or a soft, warm sweater," effectively conveys the enveloping and persistent nature of grief. However, the metaphors could be further developed to provide a more nuanced understanding of the experience of grief.

The poem's structure, composed of six quatrains, provides a clear and organized progression of thoughts. Yet, the rhythm and rhyme scheme could be more consistent to enhance the flow and musicality of the poem. For instance, the second and fourth lines of each stanza could consistently rhyme, which is not the case in the third and fifth stanzas.

The poem's language is generally clear and accessible, which makes the poem's themes and emotions relatable to a broad audience. However, the poem could benefit from more vivid and concrete imagery to engage the reader's senses and emotions more deeply. For example, instead of saying "I see the things he wore," the poem could describe a specific item of clothing and its sensory details.

The poem's ending offers a hopeful perspective on grief, suggesting the possibility of moving forward while still honoring the memory of the lost one. This shift in tone is effective and provides a sense of closure. However, the transition to this hopeful tone could be smoother and more gradual to make the shift feel more natural and believable.

Lastly, the poem could benefit from a more careful use of punctuation. For instance, the comma in the line "But if it were you, would you want," disrupts the flow of the sentence and could be removed for better readability.

Overall, the poem "Grief's Heart" offers a heartfelt exploration of grief and the possibility of healing. With further development of its metaphors, consistency in its rhyme scheme, more vivid imagery, smoother transitions, and careful punctuation, it could more effectively engage the reader and convey its themes.

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Is awful in any form. This poem sums it up beautifully. Well done.

~RoseBlack~

I wrote this for a friend who is grieving especially hard. I thought he needed a little encouragement. He loves it. I think it sums up what I would want the people who know me to put away their grief [after a suitable length of time and get on with life.
You don't have to forget, just wear it better, and keep them in your heart. ~ Geez.
.

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author comment

Hi Geezer, I'm sorry for your friends loss, this is a lovely tribute to your friend and his friend.

As usual I have a few questions :)

I what sort of sweater is/was it? Cashmere, lambs wool, a bit of description would give me ideas and help to visualise it, maybe make the person you're talking about feel real if you picked out a sweater they wore?

"There's his favorite hat," left me wondering what it looked like, what was it made of, what would it add to your poem if he tried it on, wore it, touched it or "hold his favourite hat" ?

You've said it yourself: "You don't have to forget, just wear it better,"

Great job, Ruby :) xx

Give and grow - let's raise our verses together. I'm happy to comment on your work and appreciate a comment on mine.

your read and comments. I thought about it and decided that the sweater and hat needed to be better envisioned. Is it better?
~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

Hi geezer, yes it has improved. I think the woollen hat line could still be imporoved, perhaps,
I clutch his woollen hat? (English spelling) gives the poem some movement, or grasp his woollen hat?
Better still I want to see your friend hold his woollen hat to his face, or visualise his hands whilst he demonstrates the action, in an act of emotional turmoil?
Ruby :) xx

Give and grow - let's raise our verses together. I'm happy to comment on your work and appreciate a comment on mine.

about how to improve it. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

You asked for the raw truth, here it is: I loved the poem.

As most everyone else, I can relate the loss of a dear friend. I lost my closest friend of 60 years to alcohol poisoning when he was only 65. I miss him every day.

Thanks for the wonderful poem..

I lost my best friend and neighbor last year. We had a good friendship for slightly over ten years. I wrote this for a friend who is grieving the loss of his partner. Yes, many people can relate to losing someone they love. I'm just glad that I managed to reach some of them. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

Hi, Geezer,
The reality of grief. Your final stanza is simple, but so touching.
Well said.
L

Yes,
Hold them in your heart
Put away your sorrow
Laugh and play in the rain
Have a good tomorrow.

My friend told me, "Hey we had a good ten years together, don't spoil it by getting all weepy on me."
~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

I am very sorry for the loss... I don't know what else to say....Grief is a really mountainous thing and it has it stages to be gotten through, there is no way around it. I loved the poem tho. my favorite lines are:

Hold them in your heart
Put away your sorrow
Laugh and play in the rain
Have a good tomorrow

*love, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

I appreciate you telling me about those favorite lines. It seems like many people thought of them as being the best lines.
Again, thank you, ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment
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