Poetry / Red-backed and Subdued

Good piece.  My interpretation of this work centered around the theme of a relationship and sex.  Something you know is not completely what you want or even altogether good for you, yet something still pulls you in like an addiction.  You are aware that you are accepting less, you know it, and yet you still go forward. That’s true, it’s life and we have all been there in some manner or fashion. Someone who is taking from you only parts, leaving the rest…and then resenting you and despising you for allowing them to take only parts and not the whole.  As if they have judged you and you have judged you as not being complete to have the whole accepted, but rather just pieces and parts.

it’s good but it gives me a distant feeling, but you tell me how “in his arms you are yourself” but yet “removed” it sounds like love and hate combined, it is really good. you do very well at painting a mental picture. the ending could have been better “i guess” doesn’t give much closure, in my opinion you should have left it at forever cursed. but it still is good no doubt of that

The only thing I would change is to add a period after ‘not’ in line 12.  It just begs for a catch breath.  
A very good poem, and I like to think I understand it.    

“In his arms I am myself
and still I am removed”
These are my favorite lines, very deep and they draw many images and ideas into the meaning of the poem.
I could be seen in several different ways and I won’t waste your credits to write them out.  Good poem, strong, to the point, and lasting.  

I like what you have here…the “red-backed and subdued” line in the middle really stands out…I like the metaphor of being as passive as a book…

I like this poem just in general. I think it could be about someone definately being used. Used in a way, that is wrong & almost evil. I think you used perfect words & I don’t think I would personally change much about the poem. Anyway, I wonder what this poem means to you?

Everyone wants approval from their parents. I feel that in this poem. I also feel the pain with your expressive use of negative adjectives.
You may be forever cursed but also blessed because you are learning how not to be. “Cats in the Cradle” comes to mind.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I really liked this work.  It had good flow and awesome imagery. I like that you get involved and influenced by the character’s emotions. Frightenly wonderful poem.

I really liked this poem. The self-martyrdom of the speaker really comes through, and the rhymes seem effortless. Not giving “him” a name or identity other than dark and foreboding really adds to the poem.
This poem flowed extremely well, and lacked the balkiness that most rhyming poets struggle with.

Very good, strong image: “as a book upon a shelf / red-backed and subdued.” It’s powerful enough by itself, but the extension into the next quatrain makes it all the more powerful. The last quatrain is pulls some punches, though -  a question mark at the end of “how can I not say yes?” will create strong tension by putting a full stop in the rhythm. Also, I don’t know if “I want it all with flesh and bone” makes too much sense – perhaps “I want it with all flesh…” would be more logical. Overall, very evocative poem! Good work!

It left me feeling empty and wanting to feel whole again. Mostly because the interpretation isnt cut and dry. First i thought the I was a book but now i feel its a boy who knows he’s not what his father wanted or expected but he has to live with that pain everyday.