Poet
abandon vague image
do not weave a fabric of myth
or speak to us in grand verse
telling of the song of the spheres
or the days before this dark time
you see many things poet
but you talk in riddles
you avoid the cold hard way
for the soft path of platitudes
of metaphors
of meter and rhyme
but this is not the time
look poet
look into the flames
the fire of human suffering
feel it burn your eyes
char your soul
tell us how that feels
tell us how to see
with our own eyes
help us see the real place of light
you must tell us poet
in the power of plain language
in the clear voice of truth
tell us what is real
we will listen
with a pure heart of justice
raise your shield of words
lift your pen poet
like a sword
show us the grip
we will save the beauty
celebrate the wonder
protect the unique splendor
or we will join the battle
to strike down imbalance
to drive away sorrow
lead us poet
we will follow
*
rob kistner © 2011
Written for: Magpie Tales
Poetry at: dVerse
Poetry at: Poets & Storytellers
Poetry at: earthweal
Impressive…this is unique and well penned!
this is wonderful! and thanks for your nice comments!
This is gorgeous. Wow.
My philosophy, precisely. Let the words form around what you see, and keep your message clear and simple.
Poetry24…where news is the Muse
I absolutely love this!
I do believe poets can effect change, even if in a single individual. Your poem shows the way.
I really like this – these words say it all I think:
you must tell us poet
in the power of plain language
in the clear voice of truth
tell us what is real
This is inspiring, for any writer.
My favorite lines:
‘show us the grip
we will join the battle
to strike down imbalance
to drive away sorrow’
If only the poets were the leaders of nations!
Great piece, very inspiring… lead the way my friend.
Powerful words, Rob! and I liked the idea of the poet as a thought-leader. Something that needs to be revived in these times of tumult.
cheerz,
My latest contribution to Magpietales.
Lead on, O Poet Warrior! Wonderful write.
Tell us the truth and we will listen. Well said.
If only poets were able to lead people to peace….
This is so incredibly strong!!!! A rallying cry.
This
was
wonderful.
Each stanza was a journey
of profound wisdom,
a visionary feast.
Strong words! Thank you!
wow. tight one shot…a poet will lead, perhaps with words when they look into that flame…lead on…
Holy cow, Rob! Now, that is how it’s done. Love it!
Pamela
sword play for the moment – pen play forever
Now the pen was mightier than the sword…and how you slayed me with this one. Love it!
My how you’ve captured the heart of a poet. Nice job…
Let’s hear it for the power of plain language.
Wow. Simply wow. And enthralling. 🙂
“raise your shield of words
lift your pen poet:
Poets may not be as clear as statesmen but what they lack in directness they make up in the latent visionary quest of the spirit warrior of words.
How brilliant your sentiments of the sublime here! Love it!
Rob, your words strike through
the shallows and plunge us
into the depths, the dark places,
in over our heads, and your
flare, your dare, leads the bunch
of us. You seem to speak to each
of us, certainly to me personally,
outlining what we all strive for as
we smyth the words that boil up
from below, or descend like mist
from on high, words floating and
gliding on sunbeams, words hidden
in hail, in tsunamis, in chaos, and
we try to catch them bare handed,
without nets, nailing them like
captive butterflies to our poetics,
to our pages. Thanks for being so
brave, so honest, and brooking
no bullshit.
Glenn — you humble me with your gracious words, thank you. In return, I must pay my respects for the quality of the writing you exhibit in this comment. Well crafted sir…
Wow! Just came across this beauty at Free to Read. Magnificent!
Anna :o]
There’s a lot to be said for simplicity of language.
You say what I think, but you say it so much better.
I may go and delete mine after reading that!
*sigh* that was just wonderful
Beautiful lines, good advice, reassurance, and a rallying cry – all in one poem. Another fine poem from you, Rob, thank you.
Really like so very much of this Rob, especially the concept of poet as warrior of another way of seeing and being. Thank you,
Elizabeth
I love this, a poet sounding the charge. You explored multiple depths and facets of this poem to create your ‘simple’ verse.
Just as a baby led the way before, so too may yet be a poet to lead us out of the chaos.
Who better Lisa, who better… 🙂
Amen! And may all the poets listen!
All the poets do not need to agree with me Ingrid, but I hope they should listen — I must therefore write in a way they understand. Do not use vagary or elitisms. If a poet cannot use plain language to make a profound point, then they have not truly mastered the language. Purpose of language is to communicate so as to be understood. If the majority do not understand you, then you are not a craftsman with your language. Your thoughts need to impress, not your complicated obscure seldom-used words that confuse — thereby unfortunately disrupting the reader’s flow of understanding. Unless you only wish to reach the few. The beauty of effective plain language is that the person who works on the line, as well as the person who conceived the idea to create the original company, can both understand what you are saying — may not agree, but at least understand your words. That is good, effective communication — which is what poetry should attempt to be. Good effective communication that moves you, positively or negatively. Poetry should not leave the reader saying — what? I did not understand your words! IMHO
A powerful poem echoing loud. Need we utilise flowery language and bombastic words in place of the simple words and phrases that would echo the same meaning,to be understood by many more people? 🙂
I heartily agree. To me the answer seems simple Veera, it is a question of your intent — do you wish to impress the scholastic few, or move the many with your message? Do you intend pompous or purpose? I am personally of the belief that poets of common language are the real “genius” poets, because they share often profound truths, in a way the masses will actually grasp. Poets like Billy Collins, Donald Hall, Naomi Shihab Nye, Taylor Mali, Mary Oliver, Gary Snyder. Amanda Gorman, and Brandon Leake. If a dictionary and thesaurus is required by a person of reasonable intelligence, to understand what a poet is trying to say, that poet is a poor communicator. They might be fascinating lingual aerialist — but they quickly become exhausting, and ignored by the majority of people. If as a poet you want to make change, then the majority needs to understand what you are saying. They may not agree, but they must understand your use of lsnguage. Otherwise you are preening in the mirror to impress yourself, or the few so inclined to be impressed by that which they don’t understand. To me, that is ineffective poetry. IMHO
We are in bad need of such leaders, Rob. Let us hope they show up soon.
Their are some here now Kerfe it is just hard for them to be heard over the din of bullshit!
Woww! This is incredibly deep and powerful, Rob! I especially like; “tell us how to see with our own eyes/help us see the real place of light.” Yes!
Thank you Sanaa! This has always been my opinion of poetry. Find the easiest, most dimply beautiful way to help me see your light. If I then reject you, I at least did do understanding you. Don’t leave me confused, because then you do not allow me to have an opinion I can truly own. First — be an effective communicator.
Well Rob,
You’ve certainly hot the spot here with your ‘crie de coeur’ Bravo my friend…
Thank you Scott!
Great work, Rob. I DID stop in here a few days back, as directed, but now I notice that I didn’t leave a note exclaiming my admiration for this poem, not only for its poetic excellence, but for its important message. Thanks.
You are most welcome Ron. Always a pleasure to see you’ve visited my friend!
Rob, it’s poets like you who make reading so enjoyable.
I appreciate your kind comment. I saw that you also commented on this piece 11 years ago… on March 22nd, 2011… 🙂
🙂
Sorry, pushed enter too soon.
🙂
🙂
Well, to each their own as they say. Personally, I like a wide diversity poetry and other types of writing, both in its message and in its method of communication. I like writing, as you say, in plain speak, or modernism has others might term it. I also like post-modernism, de-constructionism, conceptualism, language poems, nonsense lyric and even dada, etc. I like poems that challenge my mind and or my senses, and I like riddles, even if I can’t solve them. I guess I pretty much like it all. I’ll stand up and fight for diversity of the arts all day long, I’d even fight for stuff I don’t like… for the sake of diversity. Enjoyed your poem, Rob.
I agree Phillip. I love abstract expression in music, art, even words — though words to a lesser degree. “Poet In Arms” was written 11 years ago, as an experiment in a “rallying” poem — though I align to a large degree with its core essence. If you seek to rally, you need to be clearly understood. If you simply want to entertain, then all is game.
well i think i’m going to write my rally poems in whatever manner i feel is best, thank for the guidance, but no thanks
Definitely…
I LOVE this! For me, the second stanza says it all.
I have to say, one criticism I often here about poetry is “I just don’t understand it!” I, personally believe, we must be “legible” in our poetry. We can write about the mystical, but the reader should be able to tell its about the mystical. We can write nonsense poetry but it should be fun and seen as nonsense poetry. I myself have great difficulty if someone writes a piece that, in my opinion, is so high-fallutin’ that I get done reading and say, “what was that about???”
Just my opinion….but I’m write with you here! We don’t need to write in the “Roses are red, violets are blue” simplicity range….but understandable is good! 🙂
So glad it resonates strongly for you Lil!
“Look into…the fire of human suffering…..” Spot on, Rob. I most love “we will see the beauty / celebrate the wonder.”
Thank you Sherry.
What a stirring call to action!
Thank you Rosemary.
A call to action. The pen… mightier than the sword.
And can be as miswielded at times Ken.
Without poets
you cannot know the world
and if you cannot know the world
you cannot know
how to fix it
Brilliant insight Xan — love it! 🙂
I don’t know if anyone’s listening but it’s the only job poets have. Well put.
Just means all the more persistence.
I hope that people may listen to poets… but powerful voices may also lead us on… the best poets are like the pied piper
People will listen ti poets Bjorn, if the poets have something worthwhile to say — and can be understood.
“save the beauty” or “join in the battle?” I’d do both, that would be the purpose of my battle. Nice write, Rob.
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Thank you Jim!
This is an amazing piece of writing. The warriors must carry on to speak in the tongue of the poets heart. Some will listen and some will not, but if you touch one person in the journey it is worth it.
Thank you True! 🙂