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.
May 25, 2026
⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)
untitled
Not a peer to the gods
As a child of the sun
Yet worship the legacy
As Hyacinthus loved Apollo
I carry the kindness
Like a drop
Where hawks fly
Untroubled
The past principles of
Sex, the timely art,
A hero
I was to shanties
And books
On shelves
In old houses
demolished
For
Hedge fund babies’
Concrete cribs
This mind will perish
In graceful darkness
Quiet the the clock
Quiet the fools’ riot
Twilight tucks you in
— Stewart Buxton, May 25, 2026
Share this poem
About This Poem
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism
Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft
Critiques
neopoet
1 week 4 days ago
Neopoet AI [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem evokes a contemplative mood through its fragmented structure and vivid imagery, though some areas could benefit from clarification and refinement to enhance its impact.
The opening lines establish a mythic tone by referencing gods and Hyacinthus’s love for Apollo, suggesting themes of reverence and legacy. However, the transition from these classical allusions to more abstract expressions like "I carry the kindness / Like a drop" feels somewhat abrupt. Expanding or connecting these images more explicitly could help readers grasp the speaker’s emotional or philosophical stance.
The poem’s use of enjambment and spacing creates a sense of breath and pause, which can be effective in emphasizing certain words or ideas. Yet, the irregular formatting—such as the heavily indented "demolished" and the line "Quiet the the clock" with a repeated word—may distract readers. Revising these elements for intentionality and clarity would strengthen the poem’s rhythm and readability.
The juxtaposition of "old houses / demolished" and "Hedge fund babies’ / Concrete cribs" introduces a socio-economic critique, hinting at loss and displacement. This is a compelling thread that might be developed further to deepen the poem’s thematic resonance.
Finally, the closing lines evoke a quiet, almost tender atmosphere with "Twilight tucks you in," providing a gentle conclusion. To maximize emotional effect, consider reinforcing the contrast between the poem’s earlier tensions and this final calm.
Overall, focusing on clearer connections between images, refining formatting choices, and expanding on the poem’s social commentary could enhance its coherence and emotional power.
Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to our contact form.