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The Creature (Reflections on Vietnam)
Have you heard of the creature that prowled in the wood?
And frightened the people and stole half their food
Then off went a huntsman with all his brave men
To hunt for the creature, but never again
Some men returned; others did not
For it wasn't the creature, but they that were sought
This was written when I was 13, in 1964, more than 3 years before the Tet offensive in 1968. It is the first poem I wrote.
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?
Editing stage:
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Region & Country
United Kingdom (Scotland)
Favorite Poets
Robert Burns, Robert Lewis Stevenson, Kipling., I like things childish.
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Comments
jane210660
Sun, 2017-06-25 16:25
Keith
It's an amazing poem. I love it.
Just as an aside, mark it for the first poems workshop. If you go on to edit, then scroll down, you'll see the workshop box. Then it will show under the collection of poems for the workshop.
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Keith Logan
Sun, 2017-06-25 16:11
Would that be fair?
I have hardly any inclination to edit.
Keith Logan
the happy chappy
https://www.neopoet.com/community-guidelines
author commentjane210660
Sun, 2017-06-25 16:24
It's not to edit it as such
It's not to edit it as such Keith, it's to select 'Poets' first poem' in the workshop tab at the bottom of the page. This way the poem is assigned to the workshop.
Jx
------------
Remember we are a workshop site.
Don't forget to offer critique on poems you read.
Candlewitch
Sat, 2017-06-24 14:39
hello Keith,
the ending speaks of an awakening and lost innocence. I like this very much!
always, Cat
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And responds, please be courteous
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Keith Logan
Sun, 2017-06-25 16:13
Thank you Cat
you may be right, not something I had thought of.
Keith Logan
the happy chappy
https://www.neopoet.com/community-guidelines
author commentwesley snow
Sun, 2017-06-25 16:33
Jane is right.
Mark it for "First Poems".
It is a powerful piece and not only because it is small. This is what the Imagery workshop is all about.
The images are there in an almost hidden language.
This is not a poet's first poem, but the work of a mature poet.
I am duly impressed.
W. H. Snow
A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer its own solitude with sweet sounds. Percy Bysshe Shelley
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scribbler
Sun, 2017-06-25 18:06
Kieth
This poem overcomes its faults with both the raw emotion and message........stan