I don't know if this is a poetics or not. Can you tell me the answer?

Question

Lonely one, come to me and with mere words define
the depth and height of solitude of an empty mind
For facts you can extrapolate in droning endless words
Yet among your audience, not a one has heard.

Lonely one, go your way to walk the path you choose
Your facts, but a mote of dust and in the end will lose
You've filled your mind with words other men have known
Not a fact nor theory can you claim to even be your own

Lonely one, the path you walk has an end in view
And you will walk that path alone; I will not walk with you
Wrap yourself in all you know of books and learned things
So when the Bell tolls at last, don't ask for whom it rings 

Happiness you have found, stake claim to it with flare
Time grows shorter by the day, and you have not a care
I hear the sound of shovels digging - digging someone's grave
If it be mine, I'll ponder long was it enough I gave?

If that earthly hole be yours, you'll know you never lacked
Behaved as a trained chimp reciting someone else's facts.
Of compassion, you had a bit on the surface of your skin
Of love you had aplenty, for yourself and for your kin.

Lonely one, go on your way; forget you ever knew
All of those who ever tried to be a friend to you.

(Any resemblence to person or persons unknown is purely coincidental.)

Just a soldier · Accepted Answer

BG you have not written on yet I did not find some peace with. I wish I had your talent. You not only capture but keep my attention with the world you create in your works. Thank you for being kind enough to share these with us.

Thomas · Answer

BG

Coming in late here, but thankful.  Wow!  Wow!  Wow x 20,

Yes, it is a poem imo.  I love narrative poems where a powerful story such as yours is woven into a nicely scripted poem straight from the heart.

Lonely one, the path you walk has an end in view
And you will walk that path alone; I will not walk with you
Wrap yourself in all you know of books and learned things
So when the Bell tolls at last, don't ask for whom it rings 
(stanza by BG)

The above stanza has me reeling.  Spinning like a top and suddenly changing
into a yo-yo.    What choice have you left me when there is light at the end
of a tunnel (end in view) yet I cannot walk it with you.   If I cannot make that
walk with the one I love then it will not be made at all, and I shall turn around
and face whatever demons or angels, for I do not know---all I know is it is because
of you, and to do anything without you is a futile endeavor.

With that being said, this is so deep I need to read it several times.  First, I think the lonely one has found the Promised Land, then it looks like he's put himself back into Lonely Land.   Wow.  Talk about resultant behavioral Introspection.  What a Prototype for anyone that needs to learn how to think, and express themselves.   This is a Model for all, but you need a Sequel for slow guys like me to figure it all out, but what it does, it not only gets me thinking, but writing, journaling------even letting my daughter drive.   Yes.  Yes  Yes.  Success is Truly Failure turned inside out.

Bri

cassie58 · Answer

This is both a poetic and a lonely poem. You may not have written if for anyone specific Kathy, but there are a lot of lonely people around. I also believe there are some that are quite content to be on their own. Not a place I would like to be though as I enjoy company. Nicely penned dear friend.

Anonymous · Answer

Nice poetics, Kat
I can feel it and I just read it fast as my nerves seem a bit too frayed to 
stay in one spot right now... I wonder sometimes where these things come 
from and I discovered today, sitting in an office waiting for nothing that 
thoughts come from others how we react to them and they to us, we cannot 
force a ditty to come out when our minds are so stretched our emotions so 
tattered and the people we reach for send us away empty handed.
when all else fails
give it up and give it to God 

feels like a cop out to me, I was given legs to stand
a voice to be heard, words to use and fingers to type them
I know what I need, and what needs to be done, but I am incapable of
moving men to action or to pen... it is a travesty and I 
rave on... sorry, what has this to do with squat? not... a thing.
evidently not a bleeding thing... 

take it as it is given.

PANDORA Πανδώρα · Answer

Can I have a tantrum?...LOL

Almost everyone has taken the words out of my mouth...
So...All I can say, is that this is brilliant...x

I don't mind being alone...I do like my own company sometimes,
but I hate it when I'm on the outside looking in...that is loneliness...

old lady · Answer

Yep. It's called free verse, which means it doesn't have to rhyme or follow a scheme of beats, but it has to flow, like music. And that's what this does.

5 ft 7 Texas Heaven · Answer

YOWEE SIS! yes it's poetic, and powerful and relative, yikes.

My fave stanza is 4. I am so there. yes I know too, many can wrap themselves around this, and you weren't lookin for a target so much, but the piece can apply to many of us, Big Hugs.

techtonic realism · Answer

a lonely soul? 
do they fill your pen
when you say when
 how can you know
how the lonely distinguish
Friend from foe

..the names and places have been changed to protect the innocent! lol

Frederic · Answer

a sharper sword I have not seen in awhile
but,  I agree with neonman, this is not your style
although it is written to someone unknown
he must be a cad, for with your words you've shown

Anonymous · Answer

"A poetics" is not the same thing as "a poem." The term "poetics" refers to theories about poetry; "a poetics" would be one specific theory about poetry. So, no, what you posted is not a poetics, although it may be a poem, and it may be an illustration of your poetics, but it is not itself a poetics.

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I don't know if this is a poetics or not. Can you tell me the answer?

18 Answers