Join the Neopoet online poetry workshop and community to improve as a writer, meet fellow poets, and showcase your work. Sign up, submit your poetry, and get started.
RM
Ray Miller
Member since July 29, 2016
Member for 9 years, 10 months
member
51
Poems
183
Comments
5
Followers
Most recent
Bruce tells it slant
from the side of his mouth, long pauses
keep me on the edge of my seat
for fear that I might fall asleep.
He squints into the sun that’s crept
below the blinds and fingers catch
the panic tumbling from his eyes.
I focus on the sweat that forms
and blurs like condensation.
We spend an hour like this each week -
the futility of CBT.
We contest from each side of this desk
a too predictable game of chess –
I’m always white, Bruce always black:
defensive, dogged to the last.
Read the rest of the poem Show less
He suffers high anxiety,
low self-esteem and agonies
working for a company who specialise
in surveillance and security.
Spends his days avoiding scrutiny,
behind closed doors, in the washroom
or his secret hiding place.
He has no sense of irony.
It’s less easy at home to disappear
and his wife has come to domineer,
to belittle his obsessions, his lack
of ambition, poor personal hygiene,
absence of sexual prowess.
Yesterday he finally lost his temper
and slept the night on the sofa.
Now he tells me she’s grown colder,
she no longer talks, he’s tried
to say sorry but she doesn’t respond.
Gradually, I realise what task
Bruce is telling me he’s accomplished
and once more begin to doubt
the problem-solving approach.
Ray Miller’s timeline
- April 2026
-
13 MonReceived a critique
on Bruce tells it slant from @Geezer
"something in me. I could make a very good case for a permanent solution to Bruce's problem. Uh, yeah... I would have stretched this out just little more. Nicley treated, don't ever finish the story. You could make the t…" -
12 Sun
-
10 FriReceived a critique
on British Camp from @Geezer
"unobtrusive rhyme scheme, not readily evident, but very well done! ~ Geez." -
10 Fri
-
09 ThuReceived a critique
on Brown Study from @Lavender
"Hello, Ray, My interpretation takes me to the thoughts of a housewife back in the 50s. I am curious... Thank you! L" -
09 Thu
- January 2025
-
15 WedHighest posting month
January 2025 — 11 poems
- November 2024
-
28 ThuFirst publication
A Clockwise Direction
- February 2022
-
18 FriFirst critique offered
on "REGRET" by @scribbler
- July 2021
-
29 ThuAnniversary
5 years of membership
- July 2017
-
29 SatAnniversary
One year of membership
- July 2016
-
29 FriJoined Neopoet
Membership begins
First poem published 3044 days later.
About Me
About me
I'm a Socialist, Aston Villa supporter and faithful husband. Life's been a disappointment.
Location: England
Favorite Poets
John Cooper Clarke
Fleur Adcock
Carol Anne Duffy
Derek Mahon
Contest Wins
This member has not yet won any contests.