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Still Hoping... Autumn Image Prompt

Introduction:
Viewing the lonely lane
where the trees have dropped
their leaves, mostly brown
all color faded, lives stopped.

One last ramble ending Autumn,
lonely snowflake lands in my hand
smiling as season changes to next
not ready for this; wasn't planned.

Awakening to Spring's perfume...
played all through Summers' scented days
with nothing sober on my mind
colors change, setting them ablaze.

I am, here again as day ends
the russet leaves blowing around,
like so many rattling bones
year goes and I am lost, not found.

At my age, it is most shameful,
being clueless as to the world
expecting people will do right
when caught off guard, they will hurl

volleys of hatred at their foe
nothing good or of worth to say.
Religious zealots claim virtue
tho' acts of hate have stained the day...

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?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Last few words: 
(eddy styx III notepad) This is the second posting of this poem. I had to delete the first one to avoid confusion. thanks, Cat
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 "Still Hoping..." presents a vivid portrayal of the changing seasons as a metaphor for the passing of time and the speaker's experiences. The use of nature imagery, such as "the lonely lane", "trees have dropped their leaves", and "snowflake lands in my hand", is effective in setting the tone and mood of the poem.

However, the transition from the third to the fourth stanza is abrupt. The poem shifts from a contemplative reflection on the seasons to a critique of hypocrisy. This sudden change could be smoothed by introducing the theme of human behavior earlier in the poem or by creating a more gradual transition.

The poem's rhythm and rhyme scheme are inconsistent, which can distract from the overall reading experience. For example, the second and third stanzas have a rhyme scheme, while the first and fourth do not. Consistency in the rhyme scheme can enhance the poem's musicality and flow.

Lastly, the poem contains a few typographical errors ("Christens" instead of "Christians", "haterid" instead of "hatred") that should be corrected to maintain the poem's professionalism and readability.

Overall, the poem has a strong thematic core and uses evocative imagery. With some adjustments to the transition, rhyme scheme, and proofreading, it could be even more impactful.

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

A couple of misspellings:
* (1st line, last verse) haterid ==> hatred
* (3rd line, last verse) Christens ==> Christians
Also, consider the following re-write of the last line:
tho' acts of hatred have stained the day.

I find that, although I profess to never underestimate the power of human stupidity or their ability to think only of themselves, I still do have expectations that people are basically good and are trying to do the right thing. I guess I'm "Still Hoping" as well.

Thanx,
Steve

For catching my spelling mistakes, it is appreciated greatly. I will have to think some on that line. Your suggestion does not meet with the 8 syllable count. although, I like your idea better than mine. You keep me on my toes and that is fine with me ;)

*hugs, Cat

*
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author comment

I doubt at "your age' your clueless to the world, only wise...and disenchanted by that knowledge. People are not in fact good, naturally, I doubt. My only regreat about your poem is that you separate Christians out to be the flawed. We are all flawed -- that's perhaps the primary claim of Christianity - but lets save that debate for later!. Great POEM! I especially loved the first 2 verses. I was with you there.

I am glad that the first verses appealed to you. (I rather liked them, too!) I would be happy to discus my take on Christianity with you, as I respect your beliefs and your right to have them. maybe we could do that through the personal messaging system? Or through e-mail (addressing through p.m.) not in comments. Thank you for reading and commenting on my poem, I appreciate it!

*hugs, Cat

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

author comment

This comment was written the same night my "fireball" rant was written! lol. so, I apologize if I focused on that one detail that really isn't key to what you were saying. Hope all is well.

No problem...I made some changes to the poem, and you were right in pointing that out. I have a real big problem with religious zealots, one hurt me to the point of scaring my mind, as a child. I hope that the poem is more palatable now. thank you for your help :)

*hugs, Cat

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

author comment

This poem gets better every time I read it --- like all good poems. I'm filling in my life. I'm wondering about yours. I love how the entire first phrase is all in (parenthesis) and...the (introduction) although, that isn't the title of the poem. You are just introducing something -- as if you are observing yourself from outside, then you go to the rest of the poem, which is your experience as you. Not sure if that is right, but it sure struck me that way, and I thought that was so cool!

then.. next thought: why is it one last Autum? are you okay? non of my business, but my mind takes me there. That is reinforced when you say "one last ramble ending Autum"....I'm so worried now.

Then...my favorite line..."years gone by and I am lost, not found" ....you broke my heart there. I know what you mean. It says so much. I could write a whole poem about that line. maybe a whole book!

then... a realization of some kind in the last versus .. that the game is hopeless in some ways. we are fighting such forces --human nature itself. the flaws of human culture, societies, who are these people anyway, are they us? who else?

Then... I look back at the title of your poem --- Still Hoping! despite all that...it is really beautiful to me. This is what poetry should do.

My other favorite lines: "at my age it shameful, being clueless to the world" -- that line got me too. I know what you mean... but in fact it's in those statements that prove you're not clueless. Such humility. And to demonstrate it to me in real life --- you just listened to my silly comment, took me seriously instead of arguing, though about what I said and changed the line to be more powerful to more people. Class act!

Also, I'm sorry for what ever has happened to you by that asshole when you were a kid.

Your poem is very powerful to me....I may be taking liberty with the interpretation, but I love it! even now as i end my comment, scrolling back up to make sure I didn't miss what I wanted to say, all I see are more ways that it works and is so good!

Cheers!, Captain

Wow! what a marvelous comment, thank you! I really appreciate the time and effort you spent in thinking this out. I am wondering about where your life has taken you, too. Because of the questions you ask, seriously valid questions!

The second person to scar my body and mind, was my maternal grandmother. The first was her daughter (whom I addressed as Norma, then later I called her Sarge) grandmother, Reva was the religious zealot. (think she was deranged) she had a diseased mind. quoting scripture like it was the only language she knew! The second oldest sister and I had to live with her for a long time. G. beat me often and belittled my Dad...which was a good way to get me angry to the point of yelling at her and calling her a liar...which only got me beaten more. I was seven. my parents were trying to work out their problems. both parents had visitation.

Stormy and I went to the Seventh Day Adventist Church School. the first part of the day was Bible Study. I listened well, when they came to the part about Adam and Eve giving life to Cain and, especially when Cain killed Abel and went off to join another tribe...Whoa... What Other Tribe??? the teacher was so shocked at my question disrupting her class, that she sent me to the boiler room to await punishment. G was called in to rehash my offense. G took me home. parents were called.
when Dad arrived at G and Grandpa's place, G started harping on what a horrible person I was. That is the first time she called me 'Devils Spawn'! Dad shut her down and gave her a piece of his mind on "Her Religion" that abused little girls with lies.

Most of my life, I spend analyzing current happenings, present and past because I learn from the past and I keep trying to understand some aspects. writing poetry is my tool to help me understand.The part about my last autumn is poetic license and bring age 73, I never know what is left. I keep trying to forgive "Norma" but have not as yet succeeded. When on her deathbed I lied to her. I said that I forgave her to ease her suffering.I feel extremely bad about the lie!

There is a whole lot of life and life's pains between 7 and 73. I am pretty sure I have babbled your ear off by now. If you want to know more, just ask me :)

*here's to babbling, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
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author comment

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. Wow, your childhood was incredible by any standards. Thanks for taking the time to share. It’s hard for me to imagine how that kind of abuse would have affected my life. I doubt I would have made it this far with that kind of burden to carry. It’s heartbreaking to imagine a small child enduring that kind of neglect and abuse from those that should be protecting her. I’m so glad your father was at least kind and trying his best to show you love. You show great resilience by being able to think so clearly about it know and making attempts to forgive.
Your experience with Reva, quoting scripture like a deranged person as if it was the only language she knew; and then being punished for just asking legitimate questions about the Bible, and being called the “devils spawn”! OMG…no wonder you have been traumatized by religion. That makes perfect sense.

It makes me realize that a certain percentage of people are always going to be seriously cruel, or at least selfish and narcissistic. With or without religion, they are just going to be present in every human institution, and it’s a shame that so many of them actually use the Church to cover their reprehensible behaviors. I hate that so much, and I’m disgusted that so many Christians in the past have not made better efforts to call out their own supposed followers. I’m so sorry this happened to you.

I was not raised in a particularly religious family, but I do have an Aunt who is very faithful Christian, and she has shown me nothing but love and kindness. So, I got to see someone practice what they believed and that has certainly shaped me to this day and has allowed a space in my heart to really examine religion in a balanced way – considering the good and bad aspects, and just being fascinated by it as sociological phenomenon regardless of its truth claims. The older I get, the more I realize there is something there.

I also think poetry is a great tool to help understand myself and others. I have to write it down – so I can work through what I actually think. I don’t know how anybody can sort things out without writing it down!

I’m glad that you are taking poetic license with your Autum. I had a feeling that was the case. I do that often – even though I’m only 51 I feel like its definitely my Autum….uhg…got to stop that!

I find it interesting that you regret giving Norma the satisfaction of being forgiven. Perhaps it was in fact the best thing? If you had to flip a coin, I'd say that was the best decision. Not because of what it does for her, but maybe because it allows you to take your power back from her. What do I know though!

Anyway, I am enjoying our conversation!
See you at the next one!

Captain

thank you for the good conversation, I enjoyed reading your response. You have given me a new thought. taking back the power she had over me...taking back the power I gave her! I respect you and think you are incredibly smart! maybe I can let it go now...

*hugs, Cat

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

author comment
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