Just to Let You Know

By MaryEllen, CT

Your butchering words
In the beginning
Went through my head
As a child who listens
To every word you say

Your constant sarcasm
Your words which
I thought were the truth
The never giving up

Just to let you know, Dad
Those butchering words
To me are now worthless
For I know now
It was only your sickness

This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.

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AdultSwim said...
May 11, 2011 at 2:10 pm:

WHY IS EVERY POPULAR 'POEM' ABOUT TEENAGE ANGST?

It should be about creativity, not venting!

Allicsirp replied...
May 11, 2011 at 4:34 pm :

I see your point but venting can definitely open up creativity in a person

AdultSwim replied...
May 12, 2011 at 2:33 pm :

Yes. Venting can cause creativity. That's indubitable. But for it to be the source of an entire poem? And a popular one, at that? Nah. Poems are about purports and creativity, not about your father or your ex-boyfriend. I'm really disgusted that those types of poems are what people prefer to read nowadays. I'm not trying to be rude, I'm offering a realistic perspective. Well, in most peoples' perspective, yes, I'm just being rude. It needed to be said.

Allicsirp replied...
May 12, 2011 at 4:00 pm :

Yeahh you are being pretty rude, but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions… :/

Zildjian replied...
Jun. 2, 2011 at 3:23 am :

Although this conversation is well off the beautiful poem at hand, I would like to direct you to the well-acclaimed and heavily anthologized Sylvia Plath, most especially to her poem entitled Daddy.

Sid Vicious, James Hetfield, Johnny 5, and Tim MicIlrath (to list off contemporary and extremely popular writers) also stand alongside this (only somewhat) modern trend in poetry to write from frustration, often as a form of catharsis. Exposing sources of violence is an important step... (more »)

FreakyEyed replied...
Jun. 3, 2011 at 12:37 pm :

Not only that, but who are you to proclaim what poetry ought to be?

Poetry has no limits. Poetry is the hair-tangle of our minds, our most secret feathers. It is a quiet story that we choose to share. And you should never, ever insult a gift as precious as that.

Cady_ replied...
Jun. 24, 2011 at 2:47 am :

I agree that poetry has no limits as well and that it should never be judged.

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xXprettybrowneyesXx said...
Apr. 25, 2011 at 12:57 pm:

ohmygosh. this is just like my dad. he is constantly dragging me down. making me feel like every word he has to say that is wrong about me is true and of course im only a child im fifteen so i always believe it . my whole childhood i thought i was ugly mainly because he said so. now, becasue of you i understand that i wasnt then one who was ugly , it was him who was.

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