This Poem was Submitted By: Kenneth R. Patton On Date: 2005-07-12 05:39:35 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!

Click Here To add this poem to your "Voting Possibilities" list!


Where Do They Come From?

They come from the child so afraid to speak  he could only shout   They come from the boy paralyzed by fear curled up in a fetal ball   They come from the lad with a homemade haircut frantically arranging hand-me-downs   They come from the teen who once dared to love so fragile no one could know   They come from the guy with steely resolve to never again let it out   They come from a hippie who had it all figured demons are easily drowned   They come from a drunk in glassy-eyed shame stumbling down deadly roads   They come from a fool in the depths of despair thinking he was all alone   They come from a soul beaten and raw defeated, conquered and crushed    They come from a baby re-living his life in the brain of a middle aged man   They come from a person  so completely recast a stranger unto his own self     They come from a mirror that looked back with love amazed that it ever returned   They come from a creature exploding with passion no longer afraid of unknown   They come from a poet a strange silly poet who knows that he’s finally come home

Copyright © July 2005 Kenneth R. Patton

Additional Notes:
Whenever I send a poem to my siblings the always ask, "Where do these COME FROM?" If they like them that is!!


This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2005-08-06 18:56:41
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Kenneth, Just a quick note to say nice job! I loved a strange silly poet who knows that he's finally come home. When something 'fits' with a person, that is 'home'. Right where you must be! Writing wonderful poetry. Sharing yourself. I'm glad this came from you. Don't score much......no matter. Dellena


This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2005-08-01 09:22:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.85185
I too have asked the same question of myself when writing...like how did I come to this? Who knows a lot of the time? Sometimes it's just a scent, a touch, a sight that can send the poet off into unknown realms and you have touched on many of them from the baby to the fool and even to a mirror. How delightful. Thanks for this.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Rachel F. Spinoza On Date: 2005-07-28 07:29:27
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.87500
Wow - i bet they never ask again! What an amazing list - its own rich poem of course. My favorite stanzas are: They come from a hippie who had it all figured demons are easily drowned and They come from a creature exploding with passion no longer afraid of [the] unknown Excellent poem Ken, which answers an even broader question - "What is poetry for" - and I think the answer here is - to make us feel that we ae part of the human family that we have experienced - and sometimes triumphed over, similar realities. thought provoking, well developed poem best, Rach
This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2005-07-15 21:03:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.70588
Kenneth, Your title is so appropriate, next time someone asks where to these people get these poems, we should all whip out your poem and let them read it. It is so totally self explanatory. Your structure is right on, good rhythm and flow, a delightful read. There is no offering of changes, suggestions etc.,this is perfect as is. Thank you for a delightful read. Lora
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2005-07-12 14:24:44
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.65217
Poet......your personal journey in life is well structured within the lines of this one.....from a little boy through the growing years, then the difficult teen years followed by the young man, the middle aged man the man who has been there, done that, survived and is living proof for others to see that life is what you make of it, life can be good when shared, life is here within me take a look see that I am good......the road may have been rough, at times perhaps one wanted to let go and give in to despair but I for one am so pleased you found the strength and the courage to take a stand, a most difficult road that must have been to travel poet.......it seems to me that the little boy in the beginning had many issues to deal with and thus his journey began..........first love is that not the hardest of all? My first love never knew I loved him for I kept it well hidden in the lining of my heart.........he joined the service of God, studied to be a priest, left before taking his final vows, married and fathered four children I believe and died a few years back of cancer.........I went to his service, met his wife and family and I know in my heart my first love had a wonderful walk through life........... They come from a person so completely recast a stranger unto his own self They come from a mirror that looked back with love amazed that it ever returned They come from a creature exploding with passion no longer afraid of unknown They come from a poet a strange silly poet who knows that he’s finally come home I so love the way you found yourself poet, the look of love you found in the mirror the exploding of passion no longer afraid of unknown and that you finally came home.......bravo, superb write and I honestly thank you for posting and sharing with us......be safe, take good care, stay cool, God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Paul R Lindenmeyer On Date: 2005-07-12 13:53:25
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Kenneth, delightful time framed vignette of that cyclical program of consciouness integration. The short lines force the issue of pace while the verbiage mandates examination on multiple planes as the piece moves on. Enjoyed the painted vignettes of "Passages" as Gail Sheehy explains so well. The return to the acknoledgement that another birth is possible, (In my humble opinion a discovery of a reality that was always present, just not percieved.}and that rebirth is a return to a better self. Poetry is such a powerful visual and core touching medium, used well here to express wonder and purpose. Like the Good Witch told Dorothy, "There's no place like home. There's no place like home." To which I humbly add my Amen. Wonderful verse, Peace, Paul PS. My brothers say the exact same thing to me. Your title is the first thing they say after they read my work. My pat answer is "Ya got me, they just come.".. I don't know if we're silly or nuts. Either way is ok, but someday I'd like to know which. Probably a subtle mixture too complex to explain to this mind. Oh well..Next.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Rebecca B. Whited On Date: 2005-07-12 07:45:28
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.50000
Kenneth, In my opinion, this poem covers just about every thought process ever experienced by a poet when he/she muses his/her thoughts before putting them on paper. We all have past experiences that shape our lives, mold our poetic thoughts. I really enjoyed this read, as it made me reflect on my past, and the things that inspire me to write. They come from the child so afraid to speak he could only shout [I like the justapositon of 'speak' and 'shout' here...a child living in such fear that he/she cannot speak, only find his/her voice when the fear become so great...a shout forces it way to the surface] They come from the boy paralyzed by fear curled up in a fetal ball [so true, many revert back to fetal positions, as if it will provide them safety] They come from the lad with a homemade haircut frantically arranging hand-me-downs [how true it is that those who have experienced a life without wealth heve learned to make do with their provisions...I think that those of us who grew up without learned the value of something far greater than wealth. And, were subjected to ridicule from those who were far better off than we...however, the lessons learned served us greater than the stigma's stamp put us down] They come from the teen who once dared to love so fragile no one could know [how true this is...we all, at one time or another, have laid our hearts out there for others to crush...it seems so cruel that this process is required in order to find one's true soulmate] They come from the guy with steely resolve to never again let it out They come from a hippie who had it all figured demons are easily drowned [we of that generation all felt as if we were invincible, did we not? Oh, that it had been that simple...but, I think our generation contributed to society in a way that awakened many eyes] They come from a drunk in glassy-eyed shame stumbling down deadly roads [the alliterationl in this stanza is great! I sense a movement, like that of one traveling down those deadly roads, which led to nowhere...your imagery is great, as I envision he/she in all his/her misery] They come from a fool in the depths of despair thinking he was all alone [ah, but many have felt they were fools, only to learn they were not alone] They come from a soul beaten and raw defeated, conquered and crushed [good imagery here also, as you portray a picture of one in such despair] They come from a baby re-living his life in the brain of a middle aged man [I really like this...we all reflect upon our lives as we get older, and desire to relive our experiences, hoping for a better outcome] They come from a person so completely recast a stranger unto his own self [and find that we no longer know the person whom we once were...'a stranger unto his own self'...very effective] They come from a mirror that looked back with love amazed that it ever returned [I sense a turn here; a reflection of one who has found hisself/herself again and can truly love the person they have become...in amazement, they find hope for the future] They come from a creature exploding with passion no longer afraid of unknown [all 'monsters in the closet' have been slain, so to speak, allowing this person to live in freedom from fear, oppression, ridicule, loneliness, etc...] They come from a poet a strange silly poet who knows that he?s finally come home [and found his poetic voice in a most profound manner!] I really like this Kenneth, as it portrays the evolution of a man who has come full cirlce in life, and now enjoys the essence of who he is. Tell your children that your life's experiences serve your poetry well! Great read! I look forward to more! Beck
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joyce P. Hale On Date: 2005-07-12 06:01:02
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.53333
Kenneth, a stunning write!! You have captured so many of the feelings that go into writing, and in a form that is not dragged-out. Each verse is the person! a description! and a finality! *They come from a baby re-living his life in the brain of a middle aged man* These lines I especially savored (although I am not a middle-aged man! <grin>). This is an excellent verse. The line *frantically arranging hand-me-downs* is a bit out of sync with the other lines, but try as I might I could not keep your *sense* and find another way to write it yet. Possibly just dropping the word *frantically* - it would take some of the frenzy out of the verse, but retain a sadness. One thing I would suggest is that you possibly, either at the end or beginning, put in a statement the same as you did for us in the additional notes. Something to the sense of "Where do a writer's words come from?* (Of course, to be grammatically correct, it would be "From where do a writer's words come?*) <big grin> Anyway, I've occasionally started or finished a write with a one-line *explanation* of the the write. Otherwise, posted alone, it would leave the reader wondering about just what you are writing. Exceptional write that I enjoyed very much, Kenneth Patton
Poetry Contests Online at The Poetic Link

Click HERE to return to ThePoeticLink.com Database Page!