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lou
lou

Toxic

Foul stench of self importance,
The air so thick , It coats the back of the throat
choking you on the rancid hatred and derision.

Gasping, fighting for breath amongst the putrid smell ,
of ego, ambition,
and dead hope.

Festering skank riding an odorous wave
of arrogant dross,
bilious heap of filth.

Open the sluices and flush
It all out.
Expunge the stain.

— lou, Feb 15, 2011

About This Poem

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: West London, GBR

Favorite Poets: Pablo Neruda , Jack Kerouac, Alan Ginsberg, D.H Lawrence, Jim Morrison's lyrics,

More from this author

Critiques

mand

mand

15 years 3 months ago

Hi Lou

I probably shouldn't, but I laughed out loud when I read " Festering skank riding an odorous wave of egotistical dross, bilious heap of filth."

There have been times ( in the past ) when I have spewed out words like this.

Great poem

Love Mand xxxxxx

mand

mand

15 years 3 months ago

Sorry

I posted it twice somehow!

lou

lou

15 years 3 months ago

LOL

Mand did you like it so much you had to repeat yourself lol

love lou

mand

mand

15 years 3 months ago

Yeh!

I've just read out to my husband, He liked it to.

He he

Love Mand xxxxx

lou

lou

15 years 3 months ago

yay

thanks

love lou

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

15 years 3 months ago

Lou

Lou,

as you know I was privy to this before posting, but still wanted to drop by and read again.

I know the details behind this one and feel you have captured the moment with some fine descriptions.

I had to look up 'Expunge'...a great word indeed...I must use that sometime.

It reads really well, but I can't recall if i suggested any changes or if i did, if you've used them...but whatever, I do like the feel of this one.

I like the title too and I like the fact you never use the word 'toxic' in the actual poem.

The only thing I would mention is you've used the word 'ego' and 'egotistic'...so I wonder if you should replace one of them with an alternative word to prevent the slight repetition? maybe, 'conceit' in place of ego in this stanza:

Gasping, fighting for breath amongst the putrid smell ,
of ego, ambition,
and dead hope.

kind regards,

HS

lou

lou

15 years 3 months ago

Dan

Thanks mate.

Glad you like the word expunge, i love finding expressive words.

ill sort out the reptition.

lou

Hooded Stranger

Hooded Stranger

15 years 3 months ago

Anna

Anna,

having looked up 'expunge', I now need to look up 'mellifluous'...I can't keep up with all these words!

LOL!

HS

lou

lou

15 years 3 months ago

Anna

Girl Power !!!!!

Men just don't have the vocabulary LOL !!!!

Lou