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D
d-rayl-d
Member since June 16, 2026
Member for 22 days
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8
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As If I Had A Choice
I've no idea what or where Cheshire is.
I know that I should maybe warn you.
My smile is never to be trusted.
If it isn't from inebriation, it's only for appearance.
I'm either biding my time until you leave,
Or my intentions are far from pure,
Depending on the nature of who you are.
I don't know or care if chivalry is dead.
Evolution is propagation.
Weakness is a smell.
I've owned that within myself,
Lost and left for dead.
I never rose out of any kind of strength.
I never wanted this.
Read the rest of the poem Show less
Your sisters made me small,
And growth or death were the only options.
Nothing is a choice.
If this offends you,
You're more prey than predator,
And I'll see it in your eye.
Mothers may laugh away the behavior of sons,
But they will never understand.
Subjective truth clings as lint to cloth.
Soft meets harsh reality in grins,
Doey eyes seeking warmth in a storm of its own creation.
A famous poet's epitaph once said Don't Try,
Whatever that's supposed to mean.
d-rayl-d’s timeline
- July 2026
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02 ThuNew follower
@alicespagnol7
- June 2026
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28 Sun
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25 ThuCritiqued
"The Harlot of the East" by @Md. Naeem Aziz
"This is gorgeous! Sometimes there's really nothing else to say. The writing is clean and to the point, and the subject matter is a real story to humanity. Thank you for letting me read!" -
21 SunCritiqued
"Once, in a Blue Moon..." by @Geezer
"I was captivated by the title here, though I don't know what it means. I have a belief that this country was founded from the eastern ocean, and in a way that understanding of its culture degrades the further west you g…" -
20 Sat
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20 Sat
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20 Sat
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20 SatCritiqued
"Salvation " by @penpenpendisarapen
"Hi Pen! Can I call you Pen? I've read both of your poems on here so far, and I like your clear voice and direction. There is no ambiguity to your meaning, and I envy that. I don't know if you're looking for critique at…" -
18 ThuCritiqued
"Elizabeth " by @davidgambro31
"Hi David. I dont have a critique here. I just like this. It's rare for me to find some brutal honesty and witty nuance. So much seems wasted on flowery language instead of relatable truth and images. This passage is gol…" -
18 ThuFirst critique offered
on "Elizabeth " by @davidgambro31
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17 WedReceived a critique
on Non Suadere from @Geezer
"I'm going to cop out, and plead insanity. After reading over a couple of times, I realize that in order to hold a conversation like this, with anybody, let alone yourself, you need to be in a different state of mind; an…" -
16 TueReceived a critique
on Non Suadere from @Geezer
"like this is a practice run; like someone who is auditioning for a role, Thinking about how to dominate the conversation and think out any possible scenario. This just didn't have the direction that it needed. ~ Geezer." -
16 TueFirst publication
Non Suadere
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16 Tue
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16 TueJoined Neopoet
Membership begins
First poem published 1 days later.
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About Me
About me
All I can report accurately about me is a digital snap of the present. Beyond that, I take little responsibility. Tomorrow has a tendency to be different. That said, I'm a former lustful word smith looking for my pathway back. I ogle synonyms the same way that people glance sideways at a perfect human figure of the opposite sex. I'm inspired by words, whether of my own verse or those of a fellow craftsman. I miss the connection of poets, and I hope that honesty is still ok. Artists should not be bound by social constraints. I appreciate the kindly advice of respectful people on my work, as long as it's done with the understanding that I am an arrogant writer because writing is my solace. I make no apologies about that. I write to figure me out and make love to the universe through the English language. How effective that is, eventually is less consequential than the process for me. My art is rudimentary right now. Life took a course that stripped me of precision and my vision is basically blind. I don't know what path I will find, but maybe something different than before. I have great respect for a quote from Allen Ginsberg: "First word... best word." For now. I like the grittiness of just getting my thoughts down, but to me the best poet of all time is Elliot. My best achievements in writing are an influence of T.S. Elliot, Stephen Crane, Stephen Dobyns, Hunter Thompson, and Vladimir Nabokov. I'm in love with the writing of each, for different reasons, but mainly because they were each uncompromisingly their own unmistakeable voices.
Pretty much, all of that to say that I need a community of writers. I don't care if you're nice or not. Just be true and don't try to follow some writer's dogma lingo with me. I'm learning again and most likely I'll find a few patrons I connect with who feel the same about themselves. I think that each of us is the only one of us who ever existed in the history of the earth. Embrace that within the Golden Rule of treating others the way you would like to be treated, and I'll believe that you're the coolest human alive.
Location: USA
Recent Work
As If I Had A Choice
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