Maybe you’ve heard? My next book, slated for 2026 is a book of poetry. And right now, after much revision, I’m working with my wonderful poetry mentor Nadia Colburn, to choose the poems and create order and flow and meaning from…well…what feels like chaos.
Here’s a poem I’m quite fond of. Maybe fond is a funny word for this poem. The poem feels empowering to me as a poet, poetry being a bit of a neglected or mistreated stepchild of the publishing world and society, in general.
My mentor and editor, on the other hand, is repulsed by some of the language in this poem, especially the key metaphor.
I’d Love Your Input
So, I’m asking you for input. Even if you’re not a poet or a lover of poetry, I’d love to know how you react to this poem:
- What’s your reaction to the poem?
- What do you feel?
- What do you take away from it? What does it mean to you?
- Is its message empowering? Strong? Accessible? Or does it not do much for you at all? Or do you hate it?
- If you were me, would you include it in a collection?
- Do you have any suggestions?
Please share your feedback in the comments below or email me.
Here’s the poem:
Making a BOMB
By Lisa Tener
Nothing quite like
the freedom of a poem.
No f&&&ing rules.
Write anything.
Stick three verbs together to make one.
Invent new words.
CAPITALIZE.
Alliterate.
Alienate.
Regurgitate.
Fornicate.
Did I just write that?
I can be silly,.
or witty,
or bore you to death
because it’s
“only a poem.”
Oh yes, me thinks we castrated poetry,
made a eunuch of the muse.
HA!
A poem is a neutron BOMB
in words.
My input: Publish it. It’s wild and free.
I love it. It has passion. And I bet it was freeing to write it. And I bet you have yet more power to release in poems that follow this one.
Lisa – I love it…I get what you’re saying about it being a strongly worded poem. However, I dont find anything offensive about it – if your gut tells you to include this then DO IT! I “get” what you’re saying with this poem (or at least my take on it)…to me what you’re saying in the poem is that we CAN say what we want through our writing – and that poetry isnt something to be treated as only something delicate and sweet…it can be powerful, thought-provoking…and actually truly provoking! What you’re saying in the poem is exactly why you should include it…poetry isnt just for the faint hearted, it can be bold and wild and a punch in the gut – this is what stirs something in us and makes us feel alive. Ok, off my soap box now! Best wishes – good luck, and looking forward to seeing your book! : ) – Loriann
Hi Lisa,
I loved the rhythm of the poem. I read it numerous times to get the energy of it. On the first reading, I just got words. By the third/fourth reading, I got the felt sense of the poem’s nature and could take it in as a whole concept of the truth about poetry vs. separate words/lines. I suggest in your introduction to the book, that you offer the reader an opportunity to get that felt sense of meaning through multiple readings. I find few people who really know how to read a poem to experience it. Thanks for putting it out there. You make it look easy.
In my own humble opinion this poem seems totally fine to me. It seems authentic, just seems very real. Perhaps a little raw, but real. And compared to the kind of expressions that are common in today’s world, especially those that are vindictive and factually challenged, this kind of seems right on to me, and even refreshing. We need to share our emotional expression and reality as well. I think this example gives us permission to feel into deeper layers, and not edit our darker thoughts too quickly, before we even know these emotions are there.
I like the idea of a poem (or words) as a weapon. I don’t think it’s offensive at all.
Wow, thank you all for this detailed and supportive feedback and encouragement. Interestingly I did get quite a few emails that held contrary opinions but they probably didn’t want to post something negative online. I think what it says to me is that the poem really works for some people but that it is quite off-putting to some others.
I do have a lot of poems for the book, so, I am leaning towards not putting it in the book, as I hope my poems to be a healing and uplifting experience. I am torn because I hear that those who posted here found the poem powerful (perhaps empowering) and received what I intended with it
Don’t like it. Turns me off. One bad piece of furniture ruins a room. The same could be true of a book of poems. One nasty poem could ruin the book–stop someone from buying it.
I really like it. To me it felt modern, pushing the boundaries, and speaking frankly with a strong voice. The first time it felt really strong and made me want to go back and read it again. The second time I felt empowered to speak my voice and question convention. Really got the feeling that poetry is the rawest form of literacy—a deeper sense of the meaning of poetry. One word, “freedom”.