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The ordinariness of despair

Richard DJJ Bowdery 1986 (Camber)

Look deep behind the mask —

which fits so tight
upon those souls as grieved by life as by death,
when once they stood, now stooped and shuffling wrecks,
beyond the wit and help of man, they dwell
yet just —

and see a common sight unfold.

About this poem

This reflects on the fact that despair is just below the surface for many people but society’s make-up often keeps it from view.

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Written on January 29, 2024

Submitted by RichardDJJBowdery on January 29, 2024

15 sec read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme X XXXXX X
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 244
Words 52
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 1, 5, 1
Full analysis for The ordinariness of despair »

Richard DJJ Bowdery

I’ve published four pamphlets of my poems. In 2023 I published my first book of poetry. My work has also appeared in anthologies published in the UK and abroad, as well as appearing in various online publications. I co-authored a book on the English poet and pacifist Donald Ward which was published in 2013 on the 10th anniversary of his death. For more information on me, my writing and to read my weekly podcasts (mostly but not always concerning poetry) please visit my website: richardbowderywriter.wordpress.com. more…

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    "The ordinariness of despair" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/180473/the-ordinariness-of-despair>.

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