The Voices

by TheUnknownWriter

Published September 19, 2015

E - Everyone

In Poetry

A/N: Hey guys! So this is just some poem that I wrote during my geometry class :P I didn't really edit much so this is sort of a draft. I also played around with the formatting and capitalization so it would be nice if you guys gave feedback on that- or any feedback in general! Oh and I was wondering how you guys feel about the title. I didn't really have any ideas for it but some feedback on it would be great! *disclaimer* in the first stanza, the scars are not about cutting. -Update!- I changed the caps :P


I walk down the street trying not to make eye contact.

I grip my phone as it burns my palms,

Creating familiar scars upon them.

It's music yearning to be played;

To be listened to.

~

So I shove my earbuds in trying to drown out the voices around me.

I concentrate on the cracks in the concrete;

Wishing I could simply slip in between them.

Wish I could hide within the caves in my own head

Where only my echos resound in such a place.

~

But the voices scream in my ear pleading for attention.

Forcing me to turn the volume higher; louder.

Trying to distract myself from what's outside the cave.

~

The voices grip my throat threatening to close my eyes.

The cave starts to crumble along with my thoughts.

My mind is fading and my fingers are shaking,

But I still turn the music up.

My brain throbbing from the sound.

~

It's ear piercing enough that

I can't hear the words,

I can't hear my thoughts,

I can't hear myself.

~

Loud enough that it all seems...

Quiet.

Comments & reviews · 4
althea29michelle commented Comment · Sep 19, 2015

Hello there, I really loved reading your poem. I'm new here and I usually write feature articles and science essays, so I'm not very good at writing poems but I want to try though. When I read the first stanza, it told me a lot. There's a lot of emotion and you actually pictured the moment. I hope to read more!:-)

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racket
Review
racket wrote a review Review · Sep 19, 2015

Hello, Yui! I love your avatar... Okay, racket here to review this poem! Wow, So, I really like this. I think anyone could relate to this, in that there's always all those voices around us and inside us telling us what to do and think, and then you mention the music you're using to distract yourself, which I totally get. So, all in all, totally relatable, so good job!
Sooo... I see that you're messing around with your capitalization and things, which is always great, but I don't think the lack of capitalization really fits with this poem. Sometimes it does, like with extremely deep, dark stuff or really innocent things, the extremes. So I don't think it fits all that well with your poem, especially because you're writing in the first person and we always capitalize the 'I's when we talk about ourselves... I dunno, that's probably not a very good reason for putting normal capitalization in, but, to me, it just doesn't seem to fit with the poem. I can't think of how to explain it better.
You use at the beginning of two of your stanzas (really enjoyed your stanzas, by the way) 'but' and 'so', which are those conjoining words that help one thought turn into another. But I'd like to see if you could try and hook the reader in with the last line or so of one stanza, a line that would really connect with the next stanza so that you don't have to use those conjoining words. Those spots where you use 'and's and 'but's and 'so's are huge opportunities for creativity in your writing. You can take out those conjoining words and make them into really interesting lines that pull your reader forward in the poem.
I really like this poem! I can relate completely and that's is always a huge goal for a writer. So good job! I really like the phrasing of everything, especially that one line about concrete cracks. Keep up the great writing! I can't wait to read more of your stuff.
~racket

Thank you so much for the feedback! Now that I look back at the capitalization I think I would agree. And thank you for pointing out the conjoining words- I may change that in the future if I have the time! Thanks again :D

racket replied · Sep 19, 2015

Your welcome!

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Rook
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Rook wrote a review Review · Sep 19, 2015

Hello!
I actually really enjoyed this poem. I think it's something that a lot of people can relate to. All us introverts are nodding along, and I totally understand the need to just drown it all out with something so loud you can't think and so the voices in your head stop. You definitely got that message across.
I think the point of this poem was to convey that message. So, ordinarily with something written in a way like this, I'd ask for more unique phrases and metaphors etc. but because the purpose is the message, I think the clarity works really well. I think you could still go over this with a fine-toothed comb and ask yourself whether you need a particular word or phrase or if it's just redundant-- not that I saw any particular examples of redundancy here, I just know that in poetry less is usually more in terms of word count.
I think you could catch a couple other minor mistakes with punctuation that way too, but I don't want to push anything on you if it was stylistic choice.
I think your formatting and capitalization was fine.
You did a good job in this poem. I really don't have much else to say. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Let me know if you need any help!
Keep writing!
~fortis

Thank you so much for your review! I really appreciate the advice. And I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I'll keep your suggestions in mind :D

AndrijanaTaseva13 wrote a review Review · Sep 19, 2015

Oh wow!
This is really good and inspiring.
You kept me in suspension till the very end that I really liked.
I think the last part is the most breathtaking one even though I like it as a whole.
I can totally relate to this.
And let me tell you something: If you wrote this during your geometry class, I cannot wait to read what you write during your English or creative writing class.
All the best.

Thank you! I really appreciate it! :D



Poetry lies its way to the truth.
— John Ciardi