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THIS IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

To sell my love to a stranger, was the hardest brick to sell,
I hid my face behind my hand, to cast the frigid spell.
If I could ask for what I desired, would I speak it straight?
The promise of the future, was where I left my fate.

Reminders of the past seeping home into the present.
And every memory reminisced, returns to me unpleasant.
In twist and turn of fantasy, I make this story fact,
It doesn’t concern characters; mistakes remain intact.

If I could relive the past, to start again as new,
Would I feel so lost, would I regret what I chose to do?
When broken heart is irreversible, where do I begin?
As doubt creeps in, the darkness, had already broken in.

Mistakes indeed, I never knew, a heavyweight in stone,
Choices made, irrational; but they were not mine alone.
Now I’m in a situation, where comparison is no reward,
if history has to judge me, it’s best that I’m ignored.

The past is gone the future’s now, a cliché and a trope
If stupid words are uttered, they cannot bring me hope
Is my response to weave my voice into a hangman’s rope,
Or sit in deep reflection, and ride this slippery slope?

If I could go back to the old house, I’d be there in a flash,
Regardless of opinion, the decision made was crass.
I miss my home, I miss each brick, I miss life’s obscurity,
I want to live there again, buried in anonymity.

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

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

The poem "THIS IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME" is a contemplative piece that delves into themes of regret, nostalgia, and the struggle of dealing with past mistakes. The poet's use of metaphor and imagery is effective in conveying these complex emotions.

However, the poem could benefit from a more consistent meter. The varying line lengths and rhythms can make the poem feel disjointed and disrupt the reader's flow. Establishing a consistent rhythm could enhance the overall reading experience and make the emotions in the poem more palpable.

Moreover, the poem seems to oscillate between abstract and concrete imagery. While this can create an interesting dynamic, it might also confuse readers. It could be beneficial to maintain a balance between the two, ensuring that the abstract concepts are grounded in tangible images that readers can easily grasp.

The poem's language is generally clear and accessible, but there are moments when the diction becomes overly complex, potentially obscuring the intended meaning. Simplifying the language in these instances could make the poem more accessible to a wider audience.

Lastly, the poem's structure could be more effectively utilized to enhance its themes. For instance, the poet could consider using stanza breaks to signal shifts in time or perspective, which could add another layer of complexity to the poem.

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

I read your poem and a rush of differing feelings washed over me! when I sort them out I will return. this piece deserves serious attention in critique!

*hugs, Cat

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

Thanks Cat, now this one was hard to write for me but probably not for the reasons you think. I shall leave you to ponder and decipher, 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.

author comment

how my heart aches for you. I too, have many regrets in my life. I have, after years of worrying about being rebuffed when making an apology, done it anyway, being pleasantly surprised when I reconnected with the person. Sometimes, we can make amends, other times, no. I think that your longer lines, give this a sense of a story being told, and I felt that I was being told in confidence, which makes it all the more palpable. ~ 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.

Thanks Geezer, you are nearly there. It's a mundane occurance that has left me with very complicated and mixed emotions. Some days, it's hard to escape my mind as it churns up the past. 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.

author comment

cherished memories stowed like treasure, and yet alongside of them, are episodes of horror [at what might have happened, yet didn't]. I have some that haunt me. [think over fifty years,] both pleasurable and ... none of them are mundane to me.
No matter what the image, I have it stowed away for a reason. So, take them out and beat yourself with them, or use them to soothe your soul, they are yours and yours to share. Thanks for sharing. ~ 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.

Thanks Geezer, I have cherished memories too, it's just that some are sprinkled with what I would say were the wrong decisions.If I could go back and change the past, would I? Who knows. Ruby :)

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

author comment

my thoughts exactly. In view of where I am now, with what I know now, would I change anything about what I did or didn't do?
All I got to say is, I think my life would have been a lot smoother if I had listened to my head instead of ...
But hey, we all been there, right? Teen years of "I do too, know what I'm talking about" You guys don't know 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.

Hello, Ruby,
I've read this several times and I'm not completely certain of your intent, but that may not be necessary to understand the feelings you've so distinctly described. One line stood out the strongest to me: "if history has to judge me, it's best that I'm ignored." Such a powerful statement. Your title reminds me of the expression "You Can Never Go Home Again" usually meaning that circumstances have changed, or you yourself have changed - most times for the better. I'm going to visit again after you've responded a bit. An intriguing poem full of deep emotion.
Thank you!
L

Thank you Lavender, I think your interpretation is not too far from the mark.
I imagine and replay the past as it pulls at every thought that comes into my over stuffed head. 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.

author comment

stays in the past for you soon. It can really beat you up. Warmest wishes for moving forward and "building" a new home!
Lx

And swimming in a sea of regrets...a feeling I am all too familiar with. Your poem was full of emotion and tugged at the heart strings. I really enjoy how each of your poems hold so much honesty and self reflection as well as acknowledging where you have been done wrong..well done!

~RoseBlack~

Thank you RoseBlack. You know, writing this one has helped me put it into perspective and appreciate where I've been and where I am now. 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.

author comment

...If I share the way that I feel, please take it all in stride.
Reach and try to comprehend what has been vailed.
The stories in our hearts, those which
we have chosen to dwell on, have a number of affects.
I would never allow myself to stop fighting. For
the peace of mind that I deserve. Yet we all have the
tendency to dwell in the past. Or else too far into the future
When I think, I take the F.U. attitude toward any belief, thought
or emotion that disrupts my peace of mind. If I've shared
too much of me and mine I am sorry, but I make it my
first intention never to offend, by the way great poem and
all of this is what it brought out in me. I learn and learn and learn
again.

The power of our language can and will change the world.
Successively until our languages become one!

I loved your poem. Still reading several times. Your emotions are clearly expressed. I really liked this stanza, it says a lot

The past is gone the future’s now, a cliché and a trope
If stupid words are uttered, they cannot bring me hope
Is my response to weave my voice into a hangman’s rope,
Or sit in deep reflection, and ride this slippery slope?

Thank you Clentin for your kind words and for reading my poem. I'm glad you enjoyed it and I'm very happy you picked out your favourite stanza. 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.

author comment
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