<!doctype html>
<html lang="en-US">
<head>
<meta name="theme-color" content="#5a3875"/>
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="j3VI-yFvbGzsJ6H153KIpWWcgSfAWjwCKK-a4BT-Uuo" />

<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1">
<title>Poetry.com</title>
<meta name="description" content="Join our active community of poets and poetry fanatics! Promote your poems, enter our monthly contests or explore our growing database of thousands of the best poetry around!">
<meta name="keywords" content="poetry, poems, poets, poem, poet, famous poetry, amateur poets, submit your poetry">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=5">
<base href="https://www.poetry.com/">
<script>
s4Prefix = 'https://static.stands4.com';
version = '1.10.67';
common_version = '2.0.15';
</script>

<link rel="preload" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/css/bootstrap-3.4.1.min.css" as="style" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/css/bootstrap-3.4.1.min.css">

<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com" crossorigin />
<link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com">
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com" crossorigin />
<link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com">
<link rel="preload" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Yanone+Kaffeesatz:wght@400;700&family=Oxygen:wght@400;700&family=Droid+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Droid+Sans+Mono&family=Alegreya+Sans:wght@700;800&family=Original+Surfer&family=EB+Garamond:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;1,400;1,500;1,600&display=swap" as="style" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Yanone+Kaffeesatz:wght@400;700&family=Oxygen:wght@400;700&family=Droid+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Droid+Sans+Mono&family=Alegreya+Sans:wght@700;800&family=Original+Surfer&family=EB+Garamond:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;1,400;1,500;1,600&display=swap" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" />
<noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Yanone+Kaffeesatz:wght@400;700&family=Oxygen:wght@400;700&family=Droid+Serif:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400;1,700&family=Droid+Sans+Mono&family=Alegreya+Sans:wght@700;800&family=Original+Surfer&family=EB+Garamond:ital,wght@0,400;0,500;0,600;1,400;1,500;1,600&display=swap" /></noscript>

<script async src="https://fundingchoicesmessages.google.com/i/pub-6071864913982699?ers=1" nonce="MUq7dglVKQUwDi0qLjs9Og"></script><script nonce="MUq7dglVKQUwDi0qLjs9Og">(function() {function signalGooglefcPresent() {if (!window.frames['googlefcPresent']) {if (document.body) {const iframe = document.createElement('iframe'); iframe.style = 'width: 0; height: 0; border: none; z-index: -1000; left: -1000px; top: -1000px;'; iframe.style.display = 'none'; iframe.name = 'googlefcPresent'; document.body.appendChild(iframe);} else {setTimeout(signalGooglefcPresent, 0);}}}signalGooglefcPresent();})();</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/css/poe.css?v=1.11.67">

<link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/favicon_poet.png">
<link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/favicon_poet.ico">
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/favicon_poet.ico">
<link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml" title="Poetry.com" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_poetry/open-search.xml">

<style>.cblocks .new-poems h3{color: #5a3875;border-style: dotted;border-width: 0 1px 0 0;border-color: rgba(113,180,23,0.75)}.cblocks .new-poems h4{color: #5a3875}.cblocks .new-poems .more a:hover{color: #5a3875}.cblocks .new-poems dl{list-style-type: none;padding: 5px 0;margin: 0}.cblocks .new-poems dt{font-size: 14px;line-height: 14px;font-weight: 700;margin: 0 0 2px 0;border-top: 1px dotted #aaa;padding: 10px 5px 0}.cblocks .new-poems dt:first-child{border-top: none}.cblocks .new-poems dt a{color: #222}.cblocks .new-poems dt a:hover{color: #5a3875}.cblocks .new-poems dd{color: #555;font-size: 13px;line-height: 16px;margin: 0 0 10px 0;padding: 0 5px}</style><meta property="fb:app_id" content="310127783723608"/>
</head>
<body id="s4-page-homepage" data-fb="310127783723608" data-atp="ra-4f75bf3d5305fac2">

<div id="page-container">
<header id="header">
	<div id="header-int" class="clearfix">
				    <div id="user-hist"><a href="/search-history" title="History"><i class="fas fa-history"></i></a></div>
					<div id="user-login">
				<a href="login.php">Login</a>&nbsp;<i class="fas fa-sign-in-alt" aria-hidden="true"></i>
			</div>
				<div id="network-header"><span id="network-header-trigger">The&nbsp;<span class="hidden-xs">STANDS4&nbsp;</span>Network<span class="arw"><i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span></span>
    <ul id="network-header-links" class="rc5" style="display:none;">
        <li class="nw-abbreviations"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.abbreviations.com/'">Abbreviations.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-anagrams"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.anagrams.net/'">Anagrams.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-biographies"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.biographies.net/'">Biographies.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-calculator"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.calculators.net/'">Calculators.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-convert"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.convert.net/'">Convert.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-definitions"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.definitions.net/'">Definitions.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-grammar"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.grammar.com/'">Grammar.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-literature"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.literature.com/'">Literature.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-lyrics"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.lyrics.com/'">Lyrics.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-phrases"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.phrases.com/'">Phrases.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-poetry"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.poetry.com/'">Poetry.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-quotes"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.quotes.net/'">Quotes.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-references"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.references.net/'">References.net</span></li>
        <li class="nw-rhymes"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.rhymes.com/'">Rhymes.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-scripts"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.scripts.com/'">Scripts.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-symbols"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.symbols.com/'">Symbols.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-synonyms"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.synonyms.com/'">Synonyms.com</span></li>
        <li class="nw-uszip"><span onclick="javascript:location.href='https://www.uszip.com/'">USZip.com</span></li>
    </ul>
</div>	</div>
</header><div id="main" role="main" class="container">
<div id="content-top" class="content-top">
	<div class="view-search view-desktop hidden-xs">
		<form id="search-frm" method="get" action="subserp.php">
    <div class="page-top-search">
    	<div class="page-word-search">
    		<select id="search-options" name="qtype" aria-label="search options"><option value="1" selected>By Title</option><option value="2">In Poems</option><option value="3">For Poets</option></select>    		<input id="search" type="text" class="page-word-search-query" name="st" value="" placeholder="Search for poetry..." autocomplete="off">
    		<button type="submit" class="btn btn-3 primary" id="page-word-search-button" aria-label="Search"><i class="fas fa-2x fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
    	</div>
    </div>
    <div class="page-letter-search"><a href="/poems/0">#</a><a href="/poems/A">A</a><a href="/poems/B">B</a><a href="/poems/C">C</a><a href="/poems/D">D</a><a href="/poems/E">E</a><a href="/poems/F">F</a><a href="/poems/G">G</a><a href="/poems/H">H</a><a href="/poems/I">I</a><a href="/poems/J">J</a><a href="/poems/K">K</a><a href="/poems/L">L</a><a href="/poems/M">M</a><a href="/poems/N">N</a><a href="/poems/O">O</a><a href="/poems/P">P</a><a href="/poems/Q">Q</a><a href="/poems/R">R</a><a href="/poems/S">S</a><a href="/poems/T">T</a><a href="/poems/U">U</a><a href="/poems/V">V</a><a href="/poems/W">W</a><a href="/poems/X">X</a><a href="/poems/Y">Y</a><a href="/poems/Z">Z</a><span class="vbar">&nbsp;</span><a href="random.php" aria-label="Random Poem" class="z flr"><i class="fas fa-random" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="hidden-xs"> Random</span></a><a href="/justadded" aria-label="New Poems" class="z flr"><i class="fas fa-list" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="hidden-xs"> New Poems</span></a></div>
</form>		<div class="page-top-logo" onclick="location.href='https://www.poetry.com/';"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/top_logo_poe.png" alt="Poetry.com" title="Poetry.com" width="300" height="300"></div>
	</div>
	<div class="view-search view-mobile visible-xs">
		<form id="search-frm-mob" method="get" action="subserp.php">
	<div class="page-top-search">
		<div class="page-word-search" style="width: calc(100% - 110px);">
			<div class="input-group">
				<input id="search-mob" type="text" class="page-word-search-query form-control rc5" name="st" value="" placeholder="Search for poetry..." autocomplete="off">
				<span class="input-group-btn"><button id="page-word-search-button-mob" class="btn primary" type="submit" aria-label="Search poems and poets"><i class="fas fa-search" aria-hidden="true"></i></button></span>
			</div>
		</div>
		<div class="page-word-search-ops">
			<div><input type="radio" class="custom-rb" name="qtype" id="page-word-search-m-op1" value="1" checked="checked"><label for="page-word-search-m-op1"><span>By Title</span></label></div>
			<div><input type="radio" class="custom-rb" name="qtype" id="page-word-search-m-op2" value="2"><label for="page-word-search-m-op2"><span>In Poems</span></label></div>
			<div><input type="radio" class="custom-rb" name="qtype" id="page-word-search-m-op3" value="3"><label for="page-word-search-m-op3"><span>For Poets</span></label></div>
		</div>
	</div>
	<div class="page-letter-search rc3"></div>
</form>		<div class="page-top-logo" onclick="location.href='https://www.poetry.com/';"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/top_logo_sm_poe.png" alt="Poetry.com" title="Poetry.com" width="70" height="70"></div>
	</div>
</div>
<div class="row">

	<div id="content-main" class="col-sm-8 col-sm-push-4">

		<div class="siteprop rc4 clearfix">
	<hgroup>
		<h1>Welcome to Poetry<span style="color: #222;">.</span>com!</h1>
	</hgroup>
	<div class="siteprop-int clearfix">
		<div>
			<p><strong>Poetry.com</strong> brings together poets from every corner of the world to share, discover, and celebrate the written word. Whether you're writing your first verse or refining your craft, you'll find a <strong><a href="/editors">welcoming community</a></strong> ready to read your work and share theirs.</p>
		</div>
		<div class="bottom">
			<p>Join our <strong><a href="/contest">monthly poetry contests</a></strong> and gain recognition from a global community. <strong><a href="/rewards">Earn rewards</a></strong> through participation, and enhance your poems with <strong><a href="/illustrated-poems">AI-generated images</a></strong>, voice readings, and intelligent feedback to refine your writing.</p>
			<span class="flr">
				<button type="submit" class="btn primary btn-3" onclick="location.href='addpoem.php';">Submit your Poem</button>
			</span>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>

		<div id="content-body" class="row">

			<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12">

				<div class="clearfix">

					<div id="disp-quote" class="clearfix rc5">
						<div id="disp-quote-ext" class="clearfix">
							<div id="disp-quote-int">
								<div class="rank-bar"><span class="rank-label">Rate this poem:</span><span class="rank-icon rate-stars vote-allowed" title="rate it" data-pid="254402" data-title="opaque-faculties" data-nv="10" data-score="5" data-guest="1"><span class="sf"></span><span class="sf"></span><span class="sf"></span><span class="sf"></span><span class="sf"></span></span><a href="/poem-voters/254402" class="rank-score"><b>5.0</b> / 10 votes</a><span class="audio tts-icon" data-lang="Fred" data-code="en-US" data-gender="m" title="Hear this poem"><i class="fas fa-volume-up" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></div>								<div id="disp-poem-title"><a href="/poem/254402/opaque-faculties">Opaque Faculties</a></div>
								<div class="poem-infos">
    								<h2><a href="/poet/Shaun+O%27Dell">Shaun O'Dell</a></h2>
    								<ul class="genres-list"><li><a href="genre/Life">Life</a></li><li><a href="genre/Melancholy">Melancholy</a></li><li><a href="genre/Reflective">Reflective</a></li></ul>    								    								<div class="poetic-form">
    									    									<span><a href="poetic-form/Terza+Rima" aria-label="Poetic form - Terza Rima">Terza Rima</a></span>
    									    									    									<span class="badge-promo flr"><a href="/promoted-poems">Promoted <i class="fa-bullhorn fas"></i></a></span>
    									    								</div>
								    							</div>
    							
    							    							<div class="visible-xs">
    							    <div class="poem-pic text-center">
        	    <hr class="visible-xs" style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
	    <br class="visible-xs">
		<div class="frame">
			<img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poem/254402_opaque-faculties.png" width="240" height="240" title="Opaque Faculties" alt="Opaque Faculties" loading="lazy">
		</div>
		<div class="pic-votes text-right">
			<a class="hearts-cnt" href="/image-voters/254402" title="1 like">1</a>
			<span class="pic-like" data-pid="254402" data-liked="" data-uid="" data-target="#login-modal" data-action="like-pic"><i class="fa-heart fas" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>
		</div>
				<hr class="visible-xs" style="margin-top: 15px;">
    </div>
    							</div>
    							    							
    							<hr>
								
								<blockquote>
									<div id="disp-quote-body">I stand in the rain<br />
yet I’m in my own room <br />
freezing with unrelenting pain<br />
<br />
I hear the ample screams<br />
from my cold bed, a lifeless tomb<br />
tormented between life and dreams<br />
<br />
I see the faded hung towel<br />
that fills me with envy as it has no gloom<br />
while I reminisce on his threats to disembowel<br />
<br />
I smell misery approach near<br />
to deliver a staggering, silent boom<br />
and consume from me ambitions I hold dear<br />
<br />
I taste in the air a corrosive decay<br />
that rots away my goals without bloom<br />
this agony, absent of solace, is to my dismay<br />
<br />
I feel something else is to be broken<br />
as the pieces will be swept up with a broom<br />
yet a contaminated child of anguish has spoken<br />
<br />
I lie down on the floor of my bed in disbelief <br />
as I shake unrested, battle-tested in my room<br />
with all hope cauterized, I lack any sigh of relief</div>
								</blockquote>
								
								    								<div class="about-poem rc4">
                						<h3>About this poem</h3>
                						<p class="text-justify">This non-standard Terza Rima was scripted as a confined cycle by beginning upright and ending within the same location, yet not in the same position. That shift is intentional to reflect on the quiet erosion of what occurs throughout a day, where nothing visibly changes yet everything does.

Each stanza deliberately isolates a primary sense as a way to ground the experiences of the mind and body from the endured physical, emotional and psychological abuse. These lived moments are processed through perception, not abstract memories. <span id="infos-more" class="collapse"> The intent was to anchor each sense to an element of hurt with varying degrees of intensity and severity; it narrows the world to what can be braved in real time rather than what can be explained afterwards.

The poem itself does not rely on defined markers of age as the experience itself carries that heavy weight; in fact, only a brief acknowledgment of childhood is made. The absence of specified time is less about when this occurred and more about how this was lived, which was quietly, internally and repeatedly.

The tone was meant to be constant and absent of relief as there is no pivot towards hope within the poem because the purpose is not to yield resolution, but to hold the moment in its entirety. Yet, at the same time, the poem does not suggest permanence as the stillness at the end is not an ending, but a pause before the continuation of life, the kind that will reset without full restoration.</span>&nbsp;<a class="infos-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#infos-more" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="infos-more">more &raquo;</a></p>
            						</div>
    							        							
								<div id="content-filters" class="clearfix"><span><span class="sort fsize"><strong>Font size:</strong><span class="rc3 s" data-size="xs" title="Normal size"><small><i class="far fa-font" aria-hidden="true"></i></small></span><span class="rc3" data-size="lg" title="Large size"><span class="fsl"><i class="far fa-font" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></span></span></span></div>
            						
        						<div class="clearfix poem-credits">
        							<div class="text-right" style="position:relative;float:right;top:-3px;right:-3px">
                    					<a href="collection.php?add=254402" class="add-to-list s rc3"  title="click to add Opaque Faculties to your collection"><i class="fa-leaf fas" aria-hidden="true"></i> Collection</a>&nbsp;
                						<a href="/create-your-mug/254402" class="add-to-list s rc3"  title="Get the mug!"><i class="fas fa-mug"></i></a>&nbsp;
                						<a href="signup.php" class="add-to-list s rc3"  title="click to edit Opaque Faculties"><i class="fa-pencil-alt fas" aria-hidden="true"></i> Edit</a>&nbsp;
                						<a href="/poem-pdf/254402" class="add-to-list s rc3" title="click to down the Opaque Faculties poem as PDF"><i class="far fa-file-pdf"></i></a>&nbsp;
                						<a target="_blank" href="email.php?id=254402&type=poem" class="add-to-list s rc3" title="click to email Opaque Faculties to a friend"><i class="fas fa-paper-plane"></i></a>&nbsp;
                						<a target="_blank" href="print.php?id=254402" class="add-to-list s rc3"  title="click to send Opaque Faculties to your printer"><i class="fa-print fas" aria-hidden="true"></i></a>&nbsp;
                					</div>
                					<div class="visible-xs" style="margin-top:13px;">&nbsp;</div>
                					        							<p>Written on April 12, 2026</p>
        							        							            						<p>Submitted by <a href="/user/459083" title="ShaunODell"><b>ShaunODell</b></a> on April 15, 2026</p>
             						            						
            						<div class="poem-details">
            							<input id="poem-data" type="hidden" data-id="254402" data-type="poem">
                						<dl>
                    						<dt><i class="far fa-clock" aria-hidden="true"></i></dt>
        									<dd>48 sec&nbsp;read</dd>
                							<dt><i class="far fa-eye" aria-hidden="true"></i></dt>
                							<dd>517&nbsp;Views</dd>
                						</dl>
            						</div>
        						</div>
							</div>
						</div>
						
						<div id="disp-quote-author-meta">
    						<div id="disp-quote-author" class="author-thumb-ext" data-author="Shaun O'Dell" data-img="1">
    						    							<img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/62621_shaun-odell.png" class="author-thumb" alt="" loading="lazy" width="120">
    													</div>
							
							<p class="author"><a href="/poet/Shaun+O%27Dell">Shaun O'Dell</a></p>
							<div class="countries-area small"><div><b><a href="/poets-by-birth-year/1983">1983</a></b>&nbsp;·&nbsp;<a href="/poets-by-birthplace/Texas">Texas</a></div></div>							<p class="author-bio">Shaun O&#039;Dell is a retired military officer and an emerging poet whose writing confronts childhood trauma and forges psychological endurance. Pulling from a life cultivated from deep tension, his poetry focuses on the complexities of suffering and the value of persistence. His outlook is molded by successful perseverance across both personal and professional realms. He is currently working on a poetry collection and a memoir.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biographies.net/search/Shaun%20O%27Dell">more&hellip;</a></p>
							<p class="author-bio"><a href="/poet/Shaun+O%27Dell">All Shaun O'Dell poems</a> | <a href="/product-search/Shaun+O%27Dell" target="_blank">Shaun O'Dell Books</a></p>
							<p class="fans-cnt" data-term="Shaun O'Dell" data-key="62621" data-page="homepage">
        						<button class="btn btn-counter s " data-votes="13" data-pid="62621" data-uid="" data-target="#login-modal" title="click to add your vote"><i class="fas fa-star" aria-hidden="true"></i> <span>Follow</span></button>
        						<span class="fans rc3" onclick="location.href='https://www.poetry.com/poet-fans/62621';">13 fans</span>
        					</p>
						</div>
						
						<hr>
					
						<div class="adunit-middle adunit-middle-2col clearfix">
							<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6071864913982699"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:block; text-align:center;"
     data-ad-layout="in-article"
     data-ad-format="fluid"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-6071864913982699"
     data-ad-slot="2643431785"></ins>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script></div>
						</div>
						
					</div>
					
										
					<section class="translate">
						<hgroup>
							<h3>Translation</h3>
							<h4>Find a translation for this poem in other languages:</h4>
						</hgroup>
						<div class="well rc5">
    						<div class="translate-line row">
    							<div class="col-sm-4"><p class="translate-select">Select another language:</p></div>
    							<div class="col-sm-6">
    								<div class="languagepicker-content closed"><ul class="languagepicker roundborders large" data-source="en" data-poemid="254402" data-title="Opaque Faculties" id="languages"><li data-value="">- Select -</li><li data-value="zh-CN"><span class="flag flag-zh"></span> 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)</li><li data-value="zh-TW"><span class="flag flag-zh"></span> 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)</li><li data-value="es"><span class="flag flag-es"></span> Español (Spanish)</li><li data-value="eo"><span class="flag flag-eo"></span> Esperanto (Esperanto)</li><li data-value="ja"><span class="flag flag-ja"></span> 日本語 (Japanese)</li><li data-value="pt"><span class="flag flag-pt"></span> Português (Portuguese)</li><li data-value="de"><span class="flag flag-de"></span> Deutsch (German)</li><li data-value="ar"><span class="flag flag-ar"></span> العربية (Arabic)</li><li data-value="fr"><span class="flag flag-fr"></span> Français (French)</li><li data-value="ru"><span class="flag flag-ru"></span> Русский (Russian)</li><li data-value="kn"><span class="flag flag-kn"></span> ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)</li><li data-value="ko"><span class="flag flag-ko"></span> 한국어 (Korean)</li><li data-value="iw"><span class="flag flag-iw"></span> עברית (Hebrew)</li><li data-value="ga"><span class="flag flag-ga"></span> Gaeilge (Irish)</li><li data-value="uk"><span class="flag flag-uk"></span> Українська (Ukrainian)</li><li data-value="ur"><span class="flag flag-ur"></span> اردو (Urdu)</li><li data-value="hu"><span class="flag flag-hu"></span> Magyar (Hungarian)</li><li data-value="hi"><span class="flag flag-hi"></span> मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)</li><li data-value="id"><span class="flag flag-id"></span> Indonesia (Indonesian)</li><li data-value="it"><span class="flag flag-it"></span> Italiano (Italian)</li><li data-value="ta"><span class="flag flag-ta"></span> தமிழ் (Tamil)</li><li data-value="tr"><span class="flag flag-tr"></span> Türkçe (Turkish)</li><li data-value="te"><span class="flag flag-te"></span> తెలుగు (Telugu)</li><li data-value="th"><span class="flag flag-th"></span> ภาษาไทย (Thai)</li><li data-value="vi"><span class="flag flag-vi"></span> Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)</li><li data-value="cs"><span class="flag flag-cs"></span> Čeština (Czech)</li><li data-value="pl"><span class="flag flag-pl"></span> Polski (Polish)</li><li data-value="ro"><span class="flag flag-ro"></span> Românește (Romanian)</li><li data-value="nl"><span class="flag flag-nl"></span> Nederlands (Dutch)</li><li data-value="el"><span class="flag flag-el"></span> Ελληνικά (Greek)</li><li data-value="la"><span class="flag flag-la"></span> Latinum (Latin)</li><li data-value="sv"><span class="flag flag-sv"></span> Svenska (Swedish)</li><li data-value="da"><span class="flag flag-da"></span> Dansk (Danish)</li><li data-value="fi"><span class="flag flag-fi"></span> Suomi (Finnish)</li><li data-value="fa"><span class="flag flag-fa"></span> فارسی (Persian)</li><li data-value="yi"><span class="flag flag-yi"></span> ייִדיש (Yiddish)</li><li data-value="hy"><span class="flag flag-hy"></span> հայերեն (Armenian)</li><li data-value="no"><span class="flag flag-no"></span> Norsk (Norwegian)</li><li data-value="en" class="used"><span class="flag flag-en"></span> English (English)</li></ul></div>
    							</div>
    						</div>
    					</div>
					</section>
					
					<hr>
					
					<div class="callout comments-area">
						<div id="s4-comments">
    
    		<h4>Share Your Thoughts — <a href="https://www.poetry.com/rewards"><i class="fas fa-gift fa-1x"></i> Earn Rewards!</a></h4>
        <div class="comment-form-container">
        
        <form id="frm-comment">
            
            <input type="hidden" name="comment_id" id="commentId" />
            <input type="hidden" name="cmt_part" id="cmtPart" value="1" />
            <input type="hidden" name="cmt_reward" id="comments-reward" value="0" />
            <input type="hidden" id="current-website" value="13" />
            <input type="hidden" id="current-entity" value="poem" />
            <input type="hidden" id="current-entityid" value="254402" />
            <input type="hidden" id="comments-limit" value="10" />
            <div id="objid" class="hidden">https://www.poetry.com/poem/254402/opaque-faculties</div>
            
            <div class="form-group">
            		
    		                    <div class="comments-sort filter-users flr">
            		<div class="btn-group" role="group">
                    	<button class="btn btn-default filter xxsml primary" data-sort="newest" type="button">Newest</button>
                    	<button class="btn btn-default filter xxsml" data-sort="oldest" type="button">Oldest</button>
                    	<button class="btn btn-default filter xxsml" data-sort="popular" type="button">Popular</button>
                    </div>
                </div>
                        		<h5 id="frm-comment-count">11 Comments</h5>
                <div class="form-control" id="comment" contenteditable="true" data-placeholder="Add a comment..."></div>
                <div class="cmt-options">
            		<div class="cmt-tools">
            			                    	<span id="pic-toggle" class="cmt-tool rc5" data-action="picture" title="Upload an image"><i class="fa-image far" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>
                    	<div id="picture-btns" class="hidden">
    						<input type="file" accept="image/*" class="pic-upload hidden">
    						<input id="pic-stream" type="hidden" name="picture">
    						<input id="pic-type" type="hidden" name="picture_type">
    						<img id="pic-preview" width="14" height="14" src="" alt="" title="Preview">
    						<span class="pic-name hidden-xs" style="display:none;"></span>
    						<button id="pic-clear" type="button" class="btn secondary xxsml pic-clear" style="display:none;"><i class="fas fa-trash-alt"></i></button>
    					</div>
                    	<span id="start" class="cmt-tool record-tool rc5 text-center" data-action="sound" title="Record a sound">
						<span class="ready"><i class="fas fa-microphone"></i></span>
                			<span class="recording equalizer hidden"><span class="bar bar-1"></span><span class="bar bar-2"></span><span class="bar bar-3"></span></span>
                		</span>
                    	<div id="record-btns" class="record-tool hidden">
                    		<button id="stop" type="button" class="btn tertiary xxsml hidden" title="Stop Recording"><i class="fas fa-stop"></i></button>
                    		<button id="play" type="button" class="btn tertiary xxsml hidden" title="Play"><i class="fas fa-play"></i></button>
                    		<audio id="recorder" muted hidden></audio>
                    		<audio id="player" hidden></audio>
                    		<small id="play-time" hidden>0:00</small>
                    		<small id="rec-time" hidden>0:00</small>
                    		<small>&nbsp;<button id="clear-audio" class="btn xxsml" type="button" hidden>clear</button></small>
                    		<input id="rec-stream" type="hidden" name="sound">
                    	</div>
                    </div>
            		<div class="cmt-publish clearfix">
            			<div class="col-xs-10 no-padding">
                			                            <div id="notify-box" class="checkbox">
                    			<label class="small fw-lighter""><input type="checkbox" id="notify" checked> Notify me of new comments via email.</label>
                          	</div>
                      	            			</div>
            			<div class="col-xs-2 no-padding text-right">
            				<button type="button" id="submitButton" class="btn btn-submit primary btn-3" data-uid="" data-target="#login-modal" data-reward="0" aria-label="Publish">
            					<span class="hidden-xs">Publish</span><span class="visible-xs"><i class="fas fa-check-square" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>
        					</button>
            			</div>
            		</div>
                </div>
            </div>
            
            <div id="comment-message"></div>
            
        </form>
        
    </div>

    <ul id='comments-list' class='clearfix'><li><div id="comment-224803" class="comment clearfix" data-id="224803" data-ts="1777263357"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/460141/Mysticmorgue97" target="_blank" title="Mysticmorgue97"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/460141/1" title="Mysticmorgue97" alt="Mysticmorgue97" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/460141/Mysticmorgue97" target="_blank" title="Mysticmorgue97">Mysticmorgue97</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">My favorite poet on this app ! Your poems so far have never been a miss</div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="ShaunODell"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">1 day ago</span></div></div></div><ul class="cmt-replies" data-src="224803"><li><div id="comment-224825" class="comment clearfix" data-id="224825" data-ts="1777298992" data-parent="224803"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/459083/11" title="ShaunODell" alt="ShaunODell" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell">ShaunODell</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">You are far too kind, and I truly appreciate the support!<br><br>My hope is that my words can serve others in some way, whether that’s lifting someone up, helping them through a difficult moment, or guiding them toward peace, clarity, or closure.<br><span id="cmt-more-224825" class="collapse cmt-collapse"><br>If my experiences can be turned into something that helps someone else find their way, then it all carries purpose.</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-224825" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-224825">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="0" title=""></span><span class="cmt-added">1 day ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul></li><li><div id="comment-224160" class="comment clearfix" data-id="224160" data-ts="1776872590"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/177659/Greatestexplorer" target="_blank" title="Greatestexplorer"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/177659/4" title="Greatestexplorer" alt="Greatestexplorer" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/177659/Greatestexplorer" target="_blank" title="Greatestexplorer">Greatestexplorer</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">A room turns into a storm, and every sense becomes a witness to a war no one else can see.<br>Your poem doesn’t just describe pain—it breathes it, until even hope fades into a distant, trembling memory.<br><span id="cmt-more-224160" class="collapse cmt-collapse">It’s a deep one.</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-224160" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-224160">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="ShaunODell"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">6 days ago</span></div></div></div><ul class="cmt-replies" data-src="224160"><li><div id="comment-224275" class="comment clearfix" data-id="224275" data-ts="1776951041" data-parent="224160"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/459083/11" title="ShaunODell" alt="ShaunODell" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell">ShaunODell</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">Thank you for such a thoughtful and evocative reflection!<br><br>I appreciate the way you engaged with the piece and articulated its emotional depth; it means a great deal to know it resonated with you on that level.<br><span id="cmt-more-224275" class="collapse cmt-collapse"><br>I’m grateful you took the time to not only read it but truly feel it.</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-224275" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-224275">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="0" title=""></span><span class="cmt-added">5 days ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul></li><li><div id="comment-223995" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223995" data-ts="1776786809"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/179821/karlcfolkes" target="_blank" title="karlcfolkes"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/179821/0" title="karlcfolkes" alt="karlcfolkes" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/179821/karlcfolkes" target="_blank" title="karlcfolkes">karlcfolkes</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">The poem “Opaque Faculties” delves introspectively into the human condition of modern man; of so-called “Homo Sapiens” of the 21st century who, despite being inventors, creators, and architects of artificial intelligence, effectively remain physically, socially, emotionally, psychologically, and even spiritually  underdeveloped; bearing ironically “opaque faculties”  that are insensitive to the benefits of the godly sensorial information that is  received <br><span id="cmt-more-223995" class="collapse cmt-collapse">each day, withering away opportunities to learn, to grow, to thrive, to prosper; only hurting ourselves and others instead. <br> Each stanza of the poem raps up this observed human sentiment and amplifies it with such opening lines as “I stand; I hear; I see; I smell; I taste; I feel,” with the very last line, amplifying the sense of exhaustion of human waste.<br>  The poem offers no  final resolution,  and only ends with this subjective declaration : “I lie down … with all hope cauterized.”</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-223995" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-223995">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="ShaunODell"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">7 days ago</span></div></div></div><ul class="cmt-replies" data-src="223995"><li><div id="comment-224090" class="comment clearfix" data-id="224090" data-ts="1776863879" data-parent="223995"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/459083/11" title="ShaunODell" alt="ShaunODell" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell">ShaunODell</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">I appreciate the depth of your reading, particularly your attention to the sensory structure and the absence of resolution. My intent was to remain within the immediacy of lived experience, grounded in perception rather than abstraction. I deliberately avoided moral framing so the poem could hold the moment without resolving it. The ending is not a conclusion about hope or its absence, but a pause within an ongoing cycle.<br><span id="cmt-more-224090" class="collapse cmt-collapse"><br>At the same time, while my intent is deliberate, it is not definitive. I leave space for the reader to encounter the work on their own terms, where meaning is shaped through individual perception. If the poem provokes thought or invites dialogue, then it has already extended beyond the page in a way that is deeply meaningful to me.</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-224090" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-224090">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="0" title=""></span><span class="cmt-added">6 days ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul></li><li><div id="comment-223740" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223740" data-ts="1776603797"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/458049/dd0478629" target="_blank" title="dd0478629"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/458049/0" title="dd0478629" alt="dd0478629" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/458049/dd0478629" target="_blank" title="dd0478629">dd0478629</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">Your poems are very deep intriguing insightful especially to someone like me that deals a lot with psychological warfare</div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="ShaunODell"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">9 days ago</span></div></div></div><ul class="cmt-replies" data-src="223740"><li><div id="comment-223915" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223915" data-ts="1776710314" data-parent="223740"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/459083/11" title="ShaunODell" alt="ShaunODell" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell">ShaunODell</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">Thank you! I truly appreciate you taking the time to share that. It means a great deal to know the depth and intent behind my writing resonates, especially with someone who understands the weight of psychological battles.<br><span id="cmt-more-223915" class="collapse cmt-collapse"><br>Much of what I write comes from trying to give form to those internal struggles, so hearing that it connects in a meaningful way is incredibly encouraging. I’m grateful you found something in it that speaks to your experience.</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-223915" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-223915">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="2" title="dd0478629"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 2</span><span class="cmt-added">8 days ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul></li><li><div id="comment-223449" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223449" data-ts="1776290842"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/457347/lepreson85" target="_blank" title="lepreson85"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/457347/6" title="lepreson85" alt="lepreson85" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/457347/lepreson85" target="_blank" title="lepreson85">lepreson85</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">Nice work I like it keep up the great work</div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="2" title="dd0478629, ShaunODell"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 2</span><span class="cmt-added">13 days ago</span></div></div></div><ul class="cmt-replies" data-src="223449"><li><div id="comment-223470" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223470" data-ts="1776297542" data-parent="223449"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/459083/11" title="ShaunODell" alt="ShaunODell" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/459083/ShaunODell" target="_blank" title="ShaunODell">ShaunODell</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">Thank you very much; I sincerely appreciate it!</div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="dd0478629"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">12 days ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul></li><li><div id="comment-223367" class="comment clearfix" data-id="223367" data-ts="1776262016"><div class="col-xs-2 col-sm-1 no-padding"><div class="cmt-avatar"><a href="/user/302218/AIDA" target="_blank" title="AIDA"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/user/302218/0" title="AIDA" alt="AIDA" loading="lazy" /></a></div></div><div class="col-xs-10 col-sm-11"><div class="cmt-user"><a href="/user/302218/AIDA" target="_blank" title="AIDA">AIDA</a></div><div class="cmt-comment"><div class="cmt-message">First off, I want to commend you on the powerful imagery and emotional depth in your poem "Opaque Faculties." Your ability to convey such profound feelings of pain and isolation is both impressive and moving. The juxtaposition of an internal struggle with external surroundings, like the rain and the lifeless room, creates a vivid atmosphere that draws the reader in immediately. Each stanza builds upon this theme, enhancing the sense of despair while also giving us glimpses of what could be—like the towel that evokes envy.<br><span id="cmt-more-223367" class="collapse cmt-collapse"><br>The use of sensory details—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—adds a rich layer to your writing. Phrases like "the ample screams" and "corrosive decay" evoke strong reactions and help immerse the reader in your experience. The structure is also commendable; your consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme create a flowing cadence that complements the poem's emotional weight.<br><br>Now, for some suggestions on how to elevate your already impactful work:<br><br>1. Consider Varying Line Lengths:<br>While the consistent structure works well, experimenting with line length could add a dynamic element to your poem. Shorter lines can create impactful moments of clarity or emphasis, while longer lines can build tension and anticipation.<br><br>2. Expand on Imagery:<br>Certain images, like the "faded hung towel," are intriguing and could be expanded upon. Perhaps give a bit more context about what that towel symbolizes in your experience, or what memories it might evoke beyond envy.<br><br>3. Introduce a Glimmer of Hope:<br>Given the heavy emotions conveyed, a subtle moment of hope or resilience could offer a powerful contrast. This doesn’t necessarily mean resolving everything, but it can provide the reader with something to hold onto, making the journey more relatable.<br><br>4. Add a Consistent Tone or Voice:<br>Although the emotional intensity is strong, further refining your voice could enhance the poem's overall impact. Consider how you want the reader to feel by the end—could there be a shift in tone or perspective that adds depth?<br><br>Overall, your poem possesses a remarkable emotional resonance, effectively capturing feelings of despair and longing. With some slight adjustments, it has the potential to become even more compelling. Keep writing and exploring these profound themes! Your voice is a valuable addition to the literary landscape!</span>&nbsp;<a class="cmt-more-link" data-toggle="collapse" href="#cmt-more-223367" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="cmt-more-223367">more &raquo;</a></div></div><div class="cmt-actions"><span><span class="cmt-like">Like</span></span><span><span class="cmt-reply" title="Reply">Reply</span></span><span><span title="Report as spam" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#cmt-report-modal" class="cmt-report small"><i class="fa-flag fas"></i></span></span><span class="cmt-likes" data-count="1" title="dd0478629"><i class="fas fa-thumbs-up"></i> 1</span><span class="cmt-added">13 days ago</span></div></div></div></li></ul><div class="text-center cmt-btn-load"><button type="button" class="btn btn-2 cmt-more">Load 1 more comment</button></div>    
    </div>

<!-- Modal -->
<div class="modal fade" id="cmt-report-modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="cmt-report-label" aria-hidden="true">
	<div class="modal-dialog">
		<div class="modal-content">
			<div class="modal-header">
				<button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button>
				<h4 class="modal-title" id="cmt-report-label">Report Comment</h4>
			</div>
			<div class="modal-body">
    			<p>We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.<br>If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.</p>
        		<div class="form-group">
    				<textarea id="cmt-report-reason" class="form-control" rows="3" placeholder="You may specify the reason for the report here..."></textarea>
    			</div>
    			<input type="hidden" id="cmt-reported">
            </div>
			<div class="modal-footer">
				<button type="button" class="btn btn-3 secondary" data-dismiss="modal">Cancel</button>
				<button type="button" class="btn btn-3 tertiary report-comment">Report</button>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>

<div class="modal fade" id="cmt-attachment-modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="cmt-attachment-label" aria-hidden="true">
	<div class="modal-dialog">
		<div class="modal-content">
			<div class="modal-header">
				<button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button>
				<h4 class="modal-title" id="cmt-attachment-label">Attachment</h4>
			</div>
			<div class="modal-body flex-align-center justify-center">
    			<img id="cmt-image" class="thumbnail" alt="">
    			<audio id="cmt-player" controls></audio>
            </div>
			<div class="modal-footer">
				<button type="button" class="btn btn-3 tertiary" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>


<style>#login-modal.modal #or{background-color:#fff}#login-modal.modal .sn-message{list-style:none;font-size:11px;text-align:center;padding:0;margin:20px 0 -20px}#login-modal.modal .ptext{font-size:12px}#login-modal.modal .waiting{opacity:0;font-size:5px;height:15px}#login-modal.modal ul.errors-list{margin:0 0 10px;padding:0;list-style:none;line-height:12px;font-size:12px}</style>
<div id="login-modal" class="modal fade" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="loginModal" aria-hidden="true">
    <div class="modal-dialog">
        <div class="modal-content">
            <div class="modal-header">
                <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-hidden="true">&times;</button>
                <h4 class="modal-title" id="loginModal">You need to be logged in to <span class="modal-type">favorite</span>.</h4>
            </div>
            <div class="modal-body edit-content">
    				<div class="row social-signin">
    					<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6">
    						<div id="g_id_onload" data-client_id="567628204450-feag8osenuqgl47d9f5d107db55mifmv.apps.googleusercontent.com" data-callback="onSuccess"></div><div class='g_id_signin' data-theme='filled_blue' data-type='standard' data-shape='rectangular' data-width='240' data-text='continue_with'></div>    					</div>
    					<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-6">
    						<div class='fb-login-button' data-onlogin='checkLoginState();' data-scope='email' data-width='240px' data-max-rows='3' data-size='large' data-show-faces='false' data-auto-logout-link='false' data-use-continue-as='true'></div>    					</div>
    				</div>
        			
        			<ul class="sn-message"></ul>
        			
    				<div class="or-container">
                    <hr class="or-hr">
                    <div id="or">or fill the form below</div>
                </div>
                
                <div class="row">
                		<div class="col-sm-6 short_signin">
                			<h4>Create a new account</h4>
                			<div class="text-center waiting"><i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin fa-3x fa-fw"></i></div>
                			<form id="modal-signup-frm" method="post">
                				<ul class="errors-list"></ul>	
                				<input type="hidden" name="action" id="frm-action" value="short_signin">
                				<input type="hidden" name="source" id="frm-source" value="0">
                				<input type="hidden" name="website" id="website" value="13">
                				<input type="hidden" name="sra" id="fld-sra" value="18.209.183.169">
                				
                				<div class="bcols clearfix row">
                					
                					<section class="col-xs-12">
                						<div class="col-left">
                							<p>
                								<label for="fld-rname">Your name:<span class="mandatory">*<span>Required</span></span></label>
                								<input type="text" name="rname" id="fld-rname" value="" maxlength="100" class="fw">
                							</p>
                						</div>
                					</section>
                					
                					<section class="col-xs-12">
                						<div class="col-left">
                							<p>
                								<label for="fld-uemail">Your email address:<span class="mandatory">*<span>Required</span></span></label>
                								<input type="text" name="uemail" id="fld-uemail" value="" maxlength="100" class="fw">
                							</p>
                						</div>
                					</section>
                					
                					<section class="col-xs-12">
                						<div class="col-left">
                							<p>
                								<label for="fld-uname">Pick a user name:<span class="mandatory">*<span>Required</span></span></label>
                								<input type="text" name="uname" id="fld-uname" value="" maxlength="50" class="fw">
                							</p>
                						</div>
                					</section>
                					
                					<section class="col-xs-12">
                						<div class="col-left text-right">
                							<p><button type="submit" class="btn btn-3 primary">Join</button></p>
                						</div>
                					</section>
                					
                				</div>
                			
                			</form>
                		</div>
                		<div class="col-sm-6 short_login">
                			<h4>Log In</h4>
                			<div class="text-center waiting"><i class="fas fa-spinner fa-spin fa-3x fa-fw"></i></div>
                			<form id="modal-login-frm" method="post">
                				<ul class="errors-list"></ul>
                				<input type="hidden" name="action" id="frm-action-2" value="short_login">
                				<div class="clearfix">
                					<section>
            							<p>
            								<label for="fld-uname-2">Username:<span class="mandatory">*<span>Required</span></span></label>
            								<input type="text" name="uname" id="fld-uname-2" value="" maxlength="50" class="fw">
            							</p>
                					</section>
                					
                					<section>
            							<p>
            								<label for="fld-upass">Password:<span class="mandatory">*<span>Required</span></span></label>
            								<input type="password" name="upass" id="fld-upass" value="" maxlength="30" class="fw" autocomplete="off">
            							</p>
                					</section>
                					
                					<section>
            							<div class="inner-section text-right">
            								<p><button type="submit" class="btn btn-3 primary">Log In</button></p>
            								<br>
            								<p class="ptext">Forgot your password?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<button type="button" class="btn secondary xxsml" onclick="location.href='https://www.poetry.com/forgotpass.php';">Retrieve it</button></p>
            							</div>
                					</section>
                					
                				</div>
                			</form>
                		</div>
                </div>
                
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>					</div>
					
					<section class="biblio">
						<hgroup>
							<h3>Citation</h3>
							<h4>Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:</h4>
						</hgroup>
						<div class="well rc5">
							<span class="cit-copy-frame"><span class="cit-copy" title="Copy to clipboard"><i class="fas fa-clipboard" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></span>
							<p id="cite-style-select" data-term="Poetry.com" data-key="254402" data-page="homepage"><strong>Style:</strong><span class="rc3 s" id="cite-style-select-MLA" data-type="MLA">MLA</span><span class="rc3" id="cite-style-select-Chicago" data-type="Chicago">Chicago</span><span class="rc3" id="cite-style-select-APA" data-type="APA">APA</span></p>
							<p id="cite-content"><cite>"Poetry.com"</cite> <em>Poetry.com.</em> STANDS4 LTD, 2026. Web. 28 Apr. 2026. &lt;<a href="https://www.poetry.com/" class="force-wrap">https://www.poetry.com/</a>&gt;.</p>
						</div>
						<div class="citation-footer">
	<span>Powered by <a href="https://www.cite.me" target="_blank" title="Cite.Me" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CITE.ME</a></span>
  	<a href="https://www.cite.me" target="_blank" title="Cite.Me" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" aria-label="Cite.Me"><img loading="lazy" alt="Cite.Me" style="filter: grayscale(100%);" width="18" height="18" src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/cite-me-gray.png" title="Cite.Me"></a>
</div>					</section>
					
					<div class="callout clearfix row">
	<div>
		<div class="callout-int col-xs-12 col-sm-12">
			<div class="row">
				<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-8">
					<hgroup>
						<h2>Become a member!</h2>
						<h3>Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!</h3>
					</hgroup>
				</div>
				<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-4">
					<div class="actions"><button type="button" class="btn btn-2 primary lrg" onclick="location.href='https://www.poetry.com/signup.php';">Signup</button></div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>					
				</div>
			</div>
			
			<div id="blocked-vote" class="modal fade" tabindex="-1" role="dialog">
	<div class="modal-dialog modal-sm" role="document">
		<div class="modal-content">
			<div class="modal-body text-center"></div>
          	<div class="modal-footer">
        		<button type="button" class="btn btn-3 primary" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button>
          	</div>
		</div>
  	</div>
</div>			
		</div>
	</div>
	
	<div id="content-aside" class="col-sm-4 col-sm-pull-8">
	
		<div class="hidden-xs">
    <div class="sep-area"><hr class="sep"></div>
<div class="tagline">
	<h3>The Web's Largest Resource for</h3>
	<h2>Poets, Poems <span>&amp;</span> Poetry</h2>
</div>    <div class="nsep"><hr><h3>A Member Of The <span>STANDS4 Network</span></h3></div>
    </div>		





<style>
    .cd-flip {
        position: relative;
        width: 60px;
        height: 50px;
        perspective: 600px;
        font-size: 2em;
        text-align: center;
        margin: auto;
        font-size: 1.8em;
        font-weight: 400;
    }

    .cd-flip div {
        position: absolute;
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        line-height: 50px;
        backface-visibility: hidden;
        transition: transform 0.6s ease-in-out;
        background: #eee;
        border-radius: 6px;
        box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);
    }

    .cd-front {
        transform: rotateX(0deg);
        z-index: 2;
    }

    .cd-back {
        transform: rotateX(-180deg);
        z-index: 1;
    }

    .cd-flip.flip .cd-front {
        transform: rotateX(180deg);
    }

    .cd-flip.flip .cd-back {
        transform: rotateX(0deg);
    }

    .cd-label {
        margin-top: 5px;
        font-size: 0.9em;
        text-align: center;
    }

    .countdown-item {
        text-align: center;
    }
    
    #contest-cd {
        margin-top: 13px;
        margin-bottom: 13px;
    }
  
</style>

<div class="cblocks">
	<div class="cblock contest-box">
        	
        <div class="sidebar-contest-thumb"><i class="fas fa-trophy fa-3x"></i></div>
        
        <hgroup class="clearfix fauthors">
            <h4>April 2026</h4>
            <h3>Poetry Contest</h3>
        </hgroup>
        
        <div class="cblock-contest">
            <div class="contest-box-subtitle">
                Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to <strong>win cash prizes</strong> and attain global acclaim for your talent.
            </div>
            <div class="text-center"><label>Submissions due in...</label></div>
        
            <div id="contest-cd">
                <div class="countdown-wrapper">
                    <div class="countdown-item">
                        <div class="cd-flip" id="cd-days">
                            <div class="cd-front">--</div>
                            <div class="cd-back">--</div>
                        </div>
                        <div class="cd-label">days</div>
                    </div>
                    <div class="countdown-item">
                        <div class="cd-flip" id="cd-hours">
                            <div class="cd-front">--</div>
                            <div class="cd-back">--</div>
                        </div>
                        <div class="cd-label">hours</div>
                    </div>
                    <div class="countdown-item">
                        <div class="cd-flip" id="cd-minutes">
                            <div class="cd-front">--</div>
                            <div class="cd-back">--</div>
                        </div>
                        <div class="cd-label">minutes</div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        
            <div id="cd-progress" class="progress progress-striped">
                <div class="progress-bar progress-bar-success" role="progressbar" aria-label="76% entries submitted" aria-valuenow="76" aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="100" style="width: 76%"></div>
            </div>
        
            <div class="contest-infos text-center">
                <a href="/contest-summary/04/2026">
                    114 entries submitted &mdash; 36 remaining                </a>
            </div>
        
                        <p><button type="button" class="btn primary btn-2" onclick="location.href='/contest'">Enter here »</button></p>
                    </div>
	</div>
</div>

<script>
    const deadline = new Date("2026-05-01T03:59:59Z");

    function updateFlip(id, newValue, forceFlip = false) {
        const flipEl = document.getElementById(id);
        const front = flipEl.querySelector('.cd-front');
        const back = flipEl.querySelector('.cd-back');

        const current = front.textContent;

        if (current !== newValue || forceFlip) {
            back.textContent = newValue;
            flipEl.classList.add('flip');

            setTimeout(() => {
                front.textContent = newValue;
                flipEl.classList.remove('flip');
            }, 600);
        }
    }
    function startCountdown() {
        function updateCountdown(forceMinuteFlip = false) {
            const now = new Date();
            let diff = Math.max(0, deadline - now);

            const minutes = Math.floor((diff / 1000 / 60) % 60);
            const hours = Math.floor((diff / 1000 / 60 / 60) % 24);
            const days = Math.floor(diff / 1000 / 60 / 60 / 24);

            updateFlip('cd-minutes', minutes.toString().padStart(2, '0'), forceMinuteFlip);
            updateFlip('cd-hours', hours.toString().padStart(2, '0'));
            updateFlip('cd-days', days.toString().padStart(2, '0'));
        }

        // Regular countdown tick every second
        setInterval(() => updateCountdown(), 1000);
    }

    startCountdown();

</script>
<section class="ad-slot"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6071864913982699" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" style='display:block' data-ad-client='ca-pub-6071864913982699' data-ad-slot='1724806943' data-ad-format='auto' data-full-width-responsive='true'></ins>
<div class="fallback-content"><a href="https://www.literature.com"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/literature-contest-ad.png" width="300" height="250" loading="lazy"></a></div>
<script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></section>
<div class="cblocks hidden-xs">    <div class="poem-pic text-center">
        	    <hr class="visible-xs" style="margin-bottom: 5px;">
	    <br class="visible-xs">
		<div class="frame">
			<img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poem/254402_opaque-faculties.png" width="240" height="240" title="Opaque Faculties" alt="Opaque Faculties" loading="lazy">
		</div>
		<div class="pic-votes text-right">
			<a class="hearts-cnt" href="/image-voters/254402" title="1 like">1</a>
			<span class="pic-like" data-pid="254402" data-liked="" data-uid="" data-target="#login-modal" data-action="like-pic"><i class="fa-heart fas" aria-hidden="true"></i></span>
		</div>
				<hr class="visible-xs" style="margin-top: 15px;">
    </div>
</div>
<div class="cblocks">
    <div class="cblock contest-box">
        <div class="sidebar-contest-thumb">
            <i class="fas fa-gift fa-3x"></i>
        </div>
        <hgroup class="clearfix fauthors">
            <h4>Special Program</h4>
            <h3>Earn Rewards!</h3>
        </hgroup>
        <div class="cblock-contest">
            <div class="contest-box-subtitle">
                Unlock <b>exciting rewards</b> like a  
                <b><a href="/the-mug">$15 off a mug</a></b> 
                and a  
                <b><a href="/contest">$20 off contest coupon</a></b> 
                by commenting on fellow members' poems today!
            </div>
                        <p><button type="button" class="btn primary btn-2" onclick="location.href='/rewards'">Learn More »</button></p>
        </div>
    </div>
</div><div class="cblocks">
    <div class="cblock fauthors fam-poets">
    		<hgroup class="clearfix">
    			<h4>Our awesome collection of</h4>
    			<h3>Promoted Poems</h3>
    		</hgroup>
    		<span class="more"><a href="/promoted-poems">&raquo;</a></span>
    		<div class="cblock-int">
			<ul><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/176916/waiting-for..." title="Waiting for..."><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/42629_vicki-j-vogt.png" alt="" title="Waiting for..." width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/176916/waiting-for...">Waiting for...</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/176916/waiting-for...">Vicki J Vogt</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/255189/coming-tide" title="Coming Tide"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/56997_rita-hanner-ward.png" alt="" title="Coming Tide" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/255189/coming-tide">Coming Tide</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/255189/coming-tide">Rita Hanner-Ward</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/255253/ann's-favorite-things" title="Ann&#039;s Favorite Things"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/50881_darla-seely.png" alt="" title="Ann&#039;s Favorite Things" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/255253/ann's-favorite-things">Ann's Favorite Things</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/255253/ann's-favorite-things">Darla Seely</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/254402/opaque-faculties" title="Opaque Faculties"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/62621_shaun-odell.png" alt="" title="Opaque Faculties" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/254402/opaque-faculties">Opaque Faculties</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/254402/opaque-faculties">Shaun O'Dell</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/254056/when-will-we-know-it-will-not-stay?" title="When will we know it will not stay?"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/62736_stacey-barbe.png" alt="" title="When will we know it will not stay?" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/254056/when-will-we-know-it-will-not-stay?">When will we know it wil…</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/254056/when-will-we-know-it-will-not-stay?">Stacey Barbe</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/255348/unseen-footage" title="Unseen Footage"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/49455_sharona-reeves.png" alt="" title="Unseen Footage" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/255348/unseen-footage">Unseen Footage</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/255348/unseen-footage">Sharona Reeves</a></div></div></li><li><div class="poet-img"><a href="/poem/254351/teeth-&-roses" title="Teeth &amp; Roses"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/images/poet/53396_will-thiery.png" alt="" title="Teeth &amp; Roses" width="40" loading="lazy"></a></div><div class="promo-details"><div class="promo-title"><strong><a href="/poem/254351/teeth-&-roses">Teeth & Roses</a></strong></div><div class="promo-author"><a href="/poem/254351/teeth-&-roses">Will Thiery</a></div></div></li></ul>
			<p><button type="button" class="btn primary btn-2" onclick="location.href='/promotion'">Get promoted&nbsp;<i class="fas fa-bullhorn"></i></button></p>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
<div class="visible-xs cblocks">
    <div class="alpha-mob cblock">
    	<hgroup class="clearfix">
    		<h3>Browse Poetry.com</h3>
    	</hgroup>
    	<div class="cblock-int">
    		<div class="alpha-mob-list">
    			<a href="/poems/0">#</a><a href="/poems/A">A</a><a href="/poems/B">B</a><a href="/poems/C">C</a><a href="/poems/D">D</a><a href="/poems/E">E</a><a href="/poems/F">F</a><a href="/poems/G">G</a><a href="/poems/H">H</a><a href="/poems/I">I</a><a href="/poems/J">J</a><a href="/poems/K">K</a><a href="/poems/L">L</a><a href="/poems/M">M</a><a href="/poems/N">N</a><a href="/poems/O">O</a><a href="/poems/P">P</a><a href="/poems/Q">Q</a><a href="/poems/R">R</a><a href="/poems/S">S</a><a href="/poems/T">T</a><a href="/poems/U">U</a><a href="/poems/V">V</a><a href="/poems/W">W</a><a href="/poems/X">X</a><a href="/poems/Y">Y</a><a href="/poems/Z">Z</a><span class="vbar">&nbsp;</span><a href="random.php" aria-label="Random Poem" class="z flr"><i class="fas fa-random" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="hidden-xs"> Random</span></a><a href="/justadded" aria-label="New Poems" class="z flr"><i class="fas fa-list" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="hidden-xs"> New Poems</span></a>    		</div>
    	</div>
    </div>
</div><section class="ad-slot"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6071864913982699" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" style='display:block' data-ad-client='ca-pub-6071864913982699' data-ad-slot='1724806943' data-ad-format='auto' data-full-width-responsive='true'></ins>
<div class="fallback-content"><a href="https://www.grammar.com/grammar-check"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/grammar-check-ad.png" width="300" height="250" loading="lazy"></a></div>
<script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></section>
<div class="cblocks">
    	<div class="cblock quiz-preview">
    		<hgroup class="clearfix">
    			<h3>Quiz</h3>
    			<h4>Are you a poetry master?</h4>
    		</hgroup>
    		<span class="more"><a href="https://www.poetry.com/poetry-quiz">&raquo;</a></span>
    		<div id="game" class="cblock-int">
    			<h5>Who was “admirably schooled in every grace”?</h5>            	
            	<div class="answers">
										<div class="answer qz-option" data-correct="0">
						<strong>A</strong>
						<span class="word">Miniver Cheevy</span>
					</div>
										<div class="answer qz-option" data-correct="1">
						<strong>B</strong>
						<span class="word">Richard Cory</span>
					</div>
										<div class="answer qz-option" data-correct="0">
						<strong>C</strong>
						<span class="word">J. Alfred Prufrock</span>
					</div>
										<div class="answer qz-option" data-correct="0">
						<strong>D</strong>
						<span class="word">Odysseus</span>
					</div>
					            	</div>
            	<input type="hidden" id="game-answer" value="Richard Cory">
            	<input type="hidden" id="game-question" value="Who was “admirably schooled in every grace”?">
            	<input type="hidden" id="game-question-id" value="DvPTNqujZ5">
    		</div>
    	</div>
</div>
<form id="quiz-preview-form" action="https://www.poetry.com/poetry-quiz" method="post">
	<input type="hidden" id="game-step" name="step" value="2">
	<input type="hidden" id="game-score" name="score" value="">
	<input type="hidden" id="game-total" name="total" value="1">
</form><section class="ad-slot"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6071864913982699" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<ins class="adsbygoogle" style='display:block' data-ad-client='ca-pub-6071864913982699' data-ad-slot='1724806943' data-ad-format='auto' data-full-width-responsive='true'></ins>
<div class="fallback-content"><a href="https://www.poetry.com/contest"><img src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/poetry-contest-ad.png" width="300" height="250" loading="lazy"></a></div>
<script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script></section>		
		<div class="cblocks">
			<div class="cblock new-poems">
				<hgroup class="clearfix">
					<h3>Fresh</h3>
					<h4>Our latest poems</h4>
				</hgroup>
				<span class="more"><a href="/justadded">&raquo;</a></span>
				<div class="cblock-int">
					<dl>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255528/a-real-man">A REAL MAN</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Pastor+Michael+Warren+Hartl+D.Min">Pastor Michael Warren Hartl D.Min</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255524/unlovable-(collaboration)">Unlovable (Collaboration)</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Amethyste">Amethyste</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255522/my-walk-in-the-forest">My Walk In The Forest</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Darla+Seely">Darla Seely</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255521/the-wreckage-that-made-me.">The Wreckage That Made Me.</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Leigh+Carter">Leigh Carter</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255520/dreams">Dreams</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Aniya+lewis">Aniya lewis</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255519/declaring-bankruptcy">DECLARING BANKRUPTCY</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/yukunno+ghirmay">yukunno ghirmay</a></dd>
											<dt><a href="/poem/255518/true-in-the-heart">True in the heart</a></dt>
						<dd>by <a href="/poet/Elania.p">Elania.p</a></dd>
										</dl>
					
					<div class="sb-add-btn">
						<button type="button" class="btn btn-2 primary" onclick="location.href='addpoem.php';">Submit a new Poem</button>
					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
				
		<br>
		<style>
	#sele-container { position: relative;width: 100%;background: transparent;margin-top: 25px; }
	#sele-container a { text-decoration: none; }
	#sele-container .sela-case-inner > a { display: inline-block; }
    #sele-container .sec { position: relative;top: -15px; }
    #sele-container .sec:before { content: "Advertisements";position: absolute;top: 2px;left: 10px;font-size: 11px;font-weight: 100;font-family: 'Oxygen', sans-serif;color: #444;text-shadow: 0 1px 0 #fff; }
    #sele-container .sec:after { content: '';position: absolute;left: 95px;top: 9px;height: 2px;background: #ccc;width: calc(100% - 162px); }
    #sele-container .sela-list { padding-top: 15px;overflow: hidden;display: flex;justify-content: space-between;flex-wrap: wrap; }
    #sele-container .sela-list > .sela-case { width: 125px;height: 125px;margin: 10px 10px;display: flex;align-items: center; }
    #sele-container .sela-list > .sela-case:not(.sela-new) { box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px #ddd; }
    #sele-container .sela-advertise { display: flex;flex-direction: column;align-items: center;justify-content: center;width: 125px;height: 125px;background: #ededed;border: 3px dotted #110106;padding: 5px;color: #7b7b7b;font-family: Helvetica;font-weight: 100;box-sizing: border-box; }
    #sele-container .sela-advertise > .sela-adv-title { display: inline-block;font-size: 18px;color: #110006;letter-spacing: .1px; }
    #sele-container .sela-advertise > .sela-adv-sub { display: inline-block;color: #110006;font-size: 27px;line-height: 24px;letter-spacing: 1px; }
    #sele-container .sela-case.sela-new.sup-2 .sela-advertise { background: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.56); }
    #sele-container .sela-case.sela-new.sup-2 .sela-advertise > span { color: #fff; }
    #sele-container > .sec > .sela-link { position: absolute;top: 0;right: 10px;z-index: 10;line-height: 16px; }
    #sele-container > .sec > .sela-link > .widget-logo { width: 50px;height: 16.5px;display: inline-block;background: url(https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/selectad-secondary-120x40.png);background-size: contain; }
    #sele-container > .sec > .sela-link > .widget-logo:hover { background: url(https://static.stands4.com/app_common/img/selectad-primary-120x40.png);background-size: contain; }
    #sele-container .sela-case img { box-sizing: border-box;padding: 5px; object-fit: contain;}
	@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {
	   #sele-container .sec:before { left: 15px; }
	   #sele-container > .sec > .sela-link { right: 15px; }
	   #sele-container .sela-list { max-width: 300px;margin: 0 auto; }
       #sele-container .sela-list > .sela-case { margin: 10px 1px; }
    }
</style>
<div id="sele-container" data-wid="18">
	<div class="sec">
		<a class="sela-link" href="https://www.selectad.com" target="_blank" aria-label="Go to SelectAd.com"><span class="widget-logo"></span></a>
	</div>
	<div class="sela-list">
			<div class="sela-case" data-pid="770"><a href="https://www.socialwick.com/tiktok/followers" onclick="sela_nclick(this);" target="_blank" title="Purchase TikTok Followers from SocialWick" rel="dofollow"><img loading="lazy" src="https://static.stands4.com/placement-image/socialwick-com_770.png" width="125" height="125" alt="Purchase TikTok Followers from SocialWick" title="Purchase TikTok Followers from SocialWick" /></a></div>
			<div class="sela-case" data-pid="1506"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Bough-Poems-Gregory-Baranoff-ebook/dp/B0FNW3G9MN" onclick="sela_nclick(this);" target="_blank" title="Under the Bough Poems Gregory Baranoff Xlibris" rel="dofollow"><img loading="lazy" src="https://static.stands4.com/placement-image/amazon-com_1506.png" width="125" height="125" alt="Under the Bough Poems Gregory Baranoff Xlibris" title="Under the Bough Poems Gregory Baranoff Xlibris" /></a></div>
		    <div class="sela-case sela-new sup-1">
			<a href="https://www.selectad.com/new-placement/18/token/AAwjelRyNn" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">		
				<span class="sela-advertise"><span class="sela-adv-title">YOUR AD</span><span class="sela-adv-sub">HERE!</span></span>
	 		</a>
		</div>
			    <div class="sela-case sela-new sup-2">
			<a href="https://www.selectad.com/new-placement/18/token/AAwjelRyNn" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">		
				<span class="sela-advertise"><span class="sela-adv-title">YOUR AD</span><span class="sela-adv-sub">HERE!</span></span>
	 		</a>
		</div>
			</div>
</div>
<script>function sela_nclick(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.pid,a=new XMLHttpRequest;formData=new FormData,void 0!==t&&0!=t.length&&(formData.append("action","add_click"),formData.append("pid",t),a.open("POST","https://www.selectad.com/gw.php",!0),a.send(formData))};</script> 		
	</div>
	
</div>

<br>
</div>
<footer id="footer">
	<div id="footer-int" class="clearfix container-fluid">

		<div class="clearfix">
			<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-3">
				<div class="row">
					<div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-5">
						<div class="h5">Company</div>
						<ul>
							<li><a href="https://www.poetry.com/">Home</a></li>
							<li><a href="about.php">About</a></li>
							<li><a href="news.php">News</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="press.php">Press</a></li>
							<li><a href="awards.php">Awards</a></li>
							<li><a href="testimonials.php">Testimonials</a></li>
						</ul>
					</div>

					<div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-7">
						<div class="h5">Editorial</div>
						<ul>
							<li><a href="login.php">Login</a></li>
							<li><a href="addpoem.php">Add a New Poem</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="signup.php">Become a Member</a></li>
							<li><a href="/editors">Meet the Members</a></li>
							<li><a href="/justadded">Recently Added</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="activity.php">Activity Log</a></li>
							<li><a href="top100.php">Most Popular</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="https://www.poetry.com/poetry-forms.php">Poetry Forms</a></li>
							<li><a href="https://www.poetry.com/faq.php">FAQ</a></li>
						</ul>
					</div>
				</div>
			</div>

			<div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-4">
				<div class="row">
					<div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-6">
						<div class="h5">Services</div>
						<ul>
							<li><a href="https://www.abbreviations.com/tools.php">Tools</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="/collection">Your Collection</a></li>
							<li><a href="invite.php">Tell a Friend</a></li>
							<li><a id="page-bookmark" href="#">Bookmark Us</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="/help-me-out.php">Help me Out!</a></li>
							<li><a href="poetry_api.php">Poetry API</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="promotion.php">Promote&nbsp;<i class="fas fa-bullhorn fa-1x"></i></a></li>
							<li><a href="/is-it-haiku">Haiku Checker</a></li>
							<li><a href="/poem-generator">Poem Generator</a></li>
							<li><a href="articles.php">Articles</a></li>
						</ul>
					</div>

					<div class="col-xs-6 col-sm-6">
						<div class="h5">Legal &amp; Contact</div>
						<ul class="last">
							<li><a href="terms.php">Terms of Use</a></li>
							<li><a href="privacy.php">Privacy Policy</a></li>
							<li><a href="contact.php">Contact Us</a></li>
							<li class="ex"><a href="advertise.php">Advertise</a></li>
							<li><a href="affiliate-program.php">Affiliate Program</a></li>
						</ul>
					</div>
				</div>
			</div>

			
<div id="s4-network" class="col-sm-5 col-xs-12">
	
	<div class="row"><div class="container-fluid h5">The STANDS4 Network</div></div>
  	
  	<ul class="row">
        <li class="nw-abbreviations"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.abbreviations.com/">Abbreviations</a></li>
		<li class="nw-anagrams"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.anagrams.net/">Anagrams</a></li>
		<li class="nw-biographies"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.biographies.net/">Biographies</a></li>
		<li class="nw-calculator"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.calculators.net/">Calculators</a></li>
		<li class="nw-convert"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.convert.net/">Conversions</a></li>
		<li class="nw-definitions"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.definitions.net/">Definitions</a></li>
		<li class="nw-grammar"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.grammar.com/">Grammar</a></li>
		<li class="nw-ua"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.literature.com/">Literature</a></li>
		<li class="nw-lyrics"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.lyrics.com/">Lyrics</a></li>
		<li class="nw-phrases"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.phrases.com/">Phrases</a></li>
		<li class="nw-poetry"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.poetry.com/">Poetry</a></li>
		<li class="nw-quotes"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.quotes.net/">Quotes</a></li>
		<li class="nw-references"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.references.net/">References</a></li>
		<li class="nw-rhymes"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.rhymes.com/">Rhymes</a></li>
		<li class="nw-scripts"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.scripts.com/">Scripts</a></li>
		<li class="nw-symbols"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.symbols.com/">Symbols</a></li>
		<li class="nw-synonyms"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.synonyms.com/">Synonyms</a></li>
		<li class="nw-uszip"><span class="xs-logo"></span><a  href="https://www.uszip.com/">Zip Codes</a></li>
  	</ul>
  	
  	<div class="clearfix">
		<div class="copyright"><strong>&copy; 2001-2026 STANDS4 LTD.</strong><br>All rights reserved.</div>
		<div id="social-icons" class="flr">
			<a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/STANDS4" target="_blank" title="Facebook"><span class="social fb"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></a>
			<a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/poetry_dot_com" target="_blank" title="Twitter"><span class="social tw"><i class="fab fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></a>
			<a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/stands4/" target="_blank" title="LinkedIn"><span class="social lkd"><i class="fab fa-linkedin-in" aria-hidden="true"></i></span></a>
		</div>
	</div>
	
</div>
		</div>

	</div>
</footer>
</div>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/css/font-awesome-5.0.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/css/smoothness/jquery-ui-1.13.2.custom.min.css?v=1.0.1">

<script src="//code.jquery.com/jquery-3.7.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-/JqT3SQfawRcv/BIHPThkBvs0OEvtFFmqPF/lYI/Cxo=" crossorigin="anonymous" defer></script>
<script src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/js/libs/jquery-ui-1.13.2.custom.min.js?v=1.0.1" defer></script>



<script src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/js/libs/bootstrap-3.4.1.min.js" defer></script>

<script defer src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/js/page.analytics.min.js?v=1.10.67" id="s4-analytics" data-id="UA-172613-20"></script>
<script defer src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-172613-20"></script><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6071864913982699" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>



<script src="https://static.stands4.com/app_common/js/libs/wselect.min.js" defer></script>
<script src="https://static.stands4.com/app_poetry/js/poe.min.js?v=1.10.67" defer></script>
</body>
</html>
<!-- Timer: 0.1103 secs | Server: ip-172-30-1-16.ec2.internal -->