Hold Steady

by Sonder

Published June 17, 2014

In 2014 Poetry

he takes a deep breath, but the air is empty in his chest

she hugs herself, shaky with anticipation and pressure to be the best

*

it takes faith to take the first step

it takes courage to open the doors

he knows there is no turning back

she knows she must face her foes

*

the crowd shrieks with delight at the sight of his slender body high

the girls titter and pull at her hair as she tries to contain a sigh

*

it takes bravery to risk a life

it takes strength to hold steady

he knows he must entertain

she knows she must always be ready

*

he tips for effect, listens to the screams

(he really is up higher than it seems)

she laughs softly, forces a smile beam

(when really she is bursting at the seams)

*

it takes skill to stay alive

it takes pain to get to the finish line

he knows he can’t hold on for long

she knows she is running out of time

*

the audience is urging them to fall

to make a false step once and for all

*

falling tightrope walkers make for a good show

and broken-hearted girls are all that we know.

Comments & reviews · 3
User avatar
IamTraunt
Review
IamTraunt wrote a review Review · Jul 27, 2014

Hey! IamTraunt, your Marvel buddy here.

Am I creeping you out? Because, yes, I am reviewing your works. Mwhahahahaha. Ahem.

Okay, like Royal said, I can't pick a certain meaning. Whenever I read over this poem, I find myself asking: Could this also mean this? Could that actually mean that? What if this also means...? It's like a puzzle that can be fitted in place to make various different pictures. It has a new aura, a new breath of air and life each time. It is very unique, Vanishing Blue, to say the least. What was your inspiration may I ask?
HOW COULD IT NOT HAVE A SINGLE LIKE ON IT? WHAT WERE PEOPLE THINKING!? IT'S A WORK OF ART! A MASTER PIECE.
Ahem. Sorry for the shouting.
I like the devices you have used, such as enjambment, the rhyme scheme is not forced, and it flows lovely. Every word in this piece is powerful. Every word has an important meaning.
Well done, my blue friend, well done indeed.
Keep it up!

User avatar
RoyalHighness
Review
RoyalHighness wrote a review Review · Jun 17, 2014

RoyalHighness has arrived to review!

Goodness gracious, this was really great.
Way to keep up with the enjambment until the very end. Way to keep the capitalization constant.
I don't mind those artistic liberalities, but if they're not consistent, I get upset. So good job!

I like the form you have here. It's unique, it's making me think about how it ties back to the concept.

The reason I know this is a good poem is because I don't fully understand what it's about. Every time I read and re-read this, I can find a new meaning in this word or this line or wow I didn't think of that before. I like that feeling, and I know it's difficult to put in a poem.

I LOVE THE LAST COUPLET. I LOVE IT A LOT. I WANT TO TAKE IT HOME WITH ME AND CUDDLE WITH IT.

Overall, I seriously liked this poem. I liked it a lot. I like it present tense. I'll probably like it in five years.

I have nothing more to say, really. That's about it.
This was one of my shortest reviews!
So to wrap it up, I honor you with nine of ten stars! Fabulous job, darling!

Sonder replied · Jun 18, 2014

Thank you for the awesome review! Glad you like it!

EscapeToNeverland wrote a review Review · Jun 17, 2014

Hey hey! It's Neverland here to review your piece.

I'd like to start off by saying that you need to fix up the grammar just a little. Capital letters and punctuation, you know what I mean? And I as a lover of poetry prefer people not using brackets. I find it ... annoying I guess.

But I love the concept. The way you had it about the two people and it was about both of them, what was happening to them. Most people don't do that. It's original.

I have to say the last stanza is probably my favourite. I'm to sure why, I just really like it. It's also a nice way to end it.


I loved this piece overall even though there are a few bugs you could fix. (Is bugs even the right word to use?)

Good luck with writing and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the GreenRoom.
~Neverland.

Sonder replied · Jun 17, 2014

Thanks for the review, Neverland. In freestyle poetry, which is what most of mine are, grammar is completely the author's choice. I do know my grammar, but I purposefully chose not to use it to hopefully bring more attention to the words and not whether I placed the period in the right place, you know? Why do you find parenthesis annoying? Of all things, that is one of the grammatically correct choices I made in this poem.
Not all poetry has to fit certain standards, and I know I prefer reviews more on the content than the appearance.
Thanks again!

That makes sense. I'm just a grammatical nut I guess. Even though I my self don't always have the best.

Sonder replied · Jun 18, 2014

It's alright. Thanks for the review!



Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.
— Joseph Campbell