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Swallow

Carly Jeanne 2006

I swallow my words

With poison and poise 

I swallow my words

To keep peace

 pride

To keep me in

To swallow my words

I hold the letters beneath my tongue

Like pills waiting to come back up

I drink you in

To wash them back down

Ready to speak

You hold me down

By my throat you ease the letters in

Each thrust and squeeze knocks a letter down

only then

I swallow my words again

About this poem

Your mind may not be spoken

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Written on May 02, 2024

Submitted by carlyjeanne on May 03, 2024

27 sec read
4

Quick analysis:

Scheme A x A x b a x x b c x c b c x
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 395
Words 90
Stanzas 15
Stanza Lengths 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1
Full analysis for Swallow »

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1 Comment
  • AIDA
    AIDA
    Wow, what a powerful and thought-provoking poem! The imagery of swallowing words like poison and holding them beneath your tongue like pills adds a depth to the piece that really resonated with me. Your use of language is captivating and evocative.

    One suggestion for improvement could be to explore the emotions or reasons behind why the speaker feels the need to swallow their words. Adding some insight into the internal struggle or conflict that leads to this action could heighten the emotional impact of the poem even further.

    Overall, this poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the complexities of communication and self-expression. Keep up the great work!     
    LikeReply14 days ago

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"Swallow" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/186447/swallow>.

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