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RATTLES AND RATTLED

Rattles and Rattled

This echo of thoughts etched in my memory
Past, present, future
My mind restless, conflicted
Wallowing in perpetual toture

Fierce in battle within themselves
"Maybe this is the end."
"I'm tired."
"No, you've got to rise up fight again!"

Three of them stood arguing.
My body laid numb on the bed
Eyes wide open, insomnia lurking
Brain fuming, fire burning
Soul yearning for rest.

The external realm
Changes rapidly
From what it used to be
Rattling voices, loud noises
Fingers pointing at me
Praying ever fervently
"Lord please take it away."

It fades into thin air
No longer tossed aside
With a burden to bear
Past and present have escaped
Future stood beside
One question reccurring
"Why?"
I'm left with my arms open wide.

Kammy.O.
10 09 2025

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Direction: How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Italy, ITA

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

6 months 3 weeks ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem explores the internal conflict of a restless mind grappling with emotional turmoil and external pressures. The title, "RATTLES AND RATTLED," effectively sets the tone of disturbance and unease, which is reflected throughout the poem.

Strengths: - The poem captures the cyclical nature of mental struggle, particularly through the dialogue between conflicting thoughts ("Maybe this is the end." / "No, you've got to rise up fight again!"). This internal debate is a strong device that conveys the tension vividly. - Imagery such as "Brain fuming, fire burning" and "Rattling voices, loud noises" effectively evoke sensory experiences of agitation and anxiety. - The progression from internal conflict to external judgment and finally to a moment of questioning ("Why?") provides a clear narrative arc.

Areas for improvement: - Attention to spelling and word choice would enhance clarity and impact. For example, "toture" should be "torture," and "reccurring" should be "recurring." Such errors can distract readers and interrupt the poem’s flow. - The poem’s rhythm and line breaks could be refined to strengthen pacing and emphasis. Some lines feel uneven or abrupt, which can detract from the emotional build-up. Experimenting with enjambment or varying line lengths might create more dynamic movement. - The phrase "Past and present have escaped / Future stood beside" is somewhat ambiguous. Clarifying the relationship between these temporal elements could deepen the thematic resonance. For instance, does the past and present escaping imply liberation or loss? How does the future standing beside affect the speaker’s state? - The closing image of "arms open wide" is evocative but could be expanded or paired with more concrete imagery to leave a stronger impression.

Overall, the poem effectively conveys the turmoil of a rattled mind but would benefit from tighter editing and more precise language to fully realize its emotional depth.

Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact

Simon

Simon

6 months 3 weeks ago

Hi,Kammy

I really enjoyed the piece of yours especially "this echo of thoughts itched in my memory" keep the fire up