This Poem was Submitted By: James C. Horak On Date: 2006-08-04 10:51:57 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Who are the Terrorists?

It is a new courage, this probing thing,   set upon seas of doubt, tipping like three in a tub. Where words become more empty, just by being doled out            like porridge too            predictably. The spewing mouth, bubbling blood like a fountain   from a body some bomb has found to sort                                     from life. It might say (were there those to brave little farms        and even smaller people at work      there, But no longer...and that merciful, it did no last to ask. Where better to ask, who are the terrorists?  But you must hurry, before the ground has taken all                   meaning away.

Copyright © August 2006 James C. Horak

Additional Notes:
I hope I did not use any bad words and/or make anyone too uncomfortable.


This Poem was Critiqued By: G. Donald Cribbs On Date: 2006-08-27 16:18:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
James, I am not sure if I am reading this right or wrong, but I'm not getting what it is you mean here. Perhaps that is intended? I'm seeing a lot of description in the first stanza, but am unsure of what it means. Abstract ideas like courage, doubt, don't tell me where we are, what's going on, etc. The first concrete image is the spewing mouth, bubbling blood like a fountain. I get that, that's pretty strong stuff there. Not sure what you mean by "some bomb has found to sort/from life." In the next line, is "it" referring back to the body, the blood, or what? Then, with the parenthetical, you don't close the parentheses. I'm not sure if your "those to brave little farms" is correct, or if you meant "those two brave little," or "those too brave little.." My favorite line is "But no longer...and that merciful, it did no last to ask." But, I don't know what you mean by it exactly. Perhaps there are some grammatical things going on here that need some revision? I'd like to help you with revising this poem, but I just don't know what is your intended meaning. My only desire in writing this critique is to help you as a writer. Please do not be offended by this critique. I would rather that you be offended by my never critiquing your poetry. So, here is my feedback, for what it is worth. Take what you like and leave the rest, and if this is helpful to you, I'd love to see a revision posted so I can better assess your fine writing here. Thanks for posting it, and thanks for taking the risk to share this poem. Warm regards, Don


This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2006-08-13 23:31:48
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi James....You certainly didn't make me uncomfortable. this is a gut wrenching poem that speaks the truth as horrible as it is. The spewing mouth, bubbling blood like a fountain from a body some bomb has found to sort from life......what could be more graphic than theses lines? The horror of these wars is almost more than anyone can take or even imagine. My husband was wounded twice in Korea and my grandson was in Iraq for a year...but thank the Lord he came home without being damaged. However, I think he is suffering from depression...which he would never admit. But you must hurry, before the ground has taken all meaning away........................I am stunned by these last lines...even more than you know. What is the meaning of it all anyway? The most scary to me is who will end it and how. It is late and I should be asleep but when I read this poem I became even more alert. Well done, my friend. Peace...Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Ellen K Lewis On Date: 2006-08-08 10:06:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
No offense taken by this reader James. I like it. I like poetry that fires me up, and this one does! Three men in a tub....words doled out like porridge... It might say (were there those to brave little farms and even smaller people at work there, But no longer...and that merciful, it did no last to ask. This confuses me a little. It makes me wonder if I am so disassociated from the reality of it that I can't see it clearly. Brave, hard working people with struggling farms is a strong picture. But what of the rest? I'm sorry I don't get it. But you must hurry before the ground has taken all meaning away! Yes, I like that. Presuming the terrorists are foiling hallowed ground you should use your exclamtion point in that line!!! Bravery and bravo to you my friend! If I may ask, are you on ground zero, in the midst of many bombings? Please continue to enlighten us with this truthful stand! I look forward to reading more! Ellen
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