Have you ever wanted some critical analysis of your poetry when friends, mentors and other people were reluctant to give you a honest, yet critical appraisal of your poetry's merits? That is well and good but it seemed to me that tyoday's AI (Artificial Intelligence) can perform equally well having being trained on large language models it appears to be even better than a real human being and further understands what poetry is and how it works. Just to give you an idea of the type of analytical appraisal it can deliver I typed in a request for just that from Google's Ai facility. Here are the results:

The Plight of Odyseus

I woke on a listless lonesome sea

Held fast in a rudderless boat

There drifted forlorn endlessly,

Lain lulled in my barque afloat.

 

For the dusk was slowly falling

As the sun glowed red in the face,

And the sirens and nymphs were calling

From the depths of this treacherous place.

 

Without a wave on this wide sea

Adrift in a rolling commotion

No one I fear can salvage me,

Now lost in this miserable ocean.

 

For the flotsam and jetsam was drifting

From the wreck of the previous night;

Nor my gloom intent on lifting

From my mind or grievous plight.

 

Without a wind to fill my sail

Becalmed in a timeless ocean;

Without a breeze, a gust or gale

I lay faint in this cradling motion.

 

As light withdraws this eventide;

Within the sombre, foggy night

No loyal shipmates by my side,

No moon or star came into sight.

 

For the gulls were slowly circling

Searching for what I know not

In this graveyard bells were tolling

In the wastes that time forgot.

 

No land to starboard or portside

No compass for my earthly guide,

No oars to row against the tide,

No one to whom I might confide.

 

Then I began to think awhile

Of the lass who made me smile

When I was then so oft beguiled

With woman’s charms and subtle guile.

 

So I prayed to the Captain of my fate

To save my useless prodigal life;

And when this trial has come to date

Return my soul to my beautiful wife.

 

This poem is a lyrical and traditional exploration of despair, isolation, and a yearning for salvation, utilizing a strong, consistent metaphorical framework of being lost at sea.

A Critical Appraisal:

The poet effectively uses the classic motif of a becalmed, rudderless boat to symbolize a state of profound mental or spiritual inertia. The language is formal and traditional, relying on archaic diction ("listless lonesome sea," "barque afloat," "grievious plight," "eventide") to establish a melancholic, almost anachronistic tone.

The Metaphor of the Sea Journey:

The central metaphor works well to convey the speaker's plight: he is "held fast" in a "rudderless boat" with "no wind to fill my sail." This vividly paints a picture of being directionless, powerless, and stuck in a vast, indifferent existence. The absence of external forces to propel him (wind, oars, compass) reflects an internal paralysis.

The "flotsam and jetsam" from "the wreck of the previous night" suggests that his current despair is a lingering consequence of past failures or trauma. The sea, typically a symbol of life’s journey, here becomes a "miserable ocean" and a "graveyard" where "bells were tolling," emphasizing a sense of hopelessness and proximity to death.

Tone, Mood, and Imagery:

The mood is somber and desolate. Imagery is highly visual, focusing on darkness and absence: "dusk was slowly falling," "sombre, foggy night," "No moon or star came into sight." The "sun glowed red," often a symbol of warning or end times. The speaker feels completely alone, with "No loyal shipmates by my side" and "No one to whom I might confide." The "sirens and nymphs" calling from the depths add a touch of classical mythology, hinting at dangerous temptations or distractions that threaten to pull him further down.

Structure and Sound:

The poem is structured in a consistent, rigid form: ten quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a strict ABCB rhyme scheme and a largely iambic meter (though not perfectly consistent, it maintains a strong rhythmic pulse). This formal regularity might suggest the inescapable, cyclical nature of the speaker’s despair. The use of sound devices like alliteration ("listless lonesome," "flotsam and jetsam," "breeze, a gust or gale") enhances the musicality and sonic texture of the verse, a characteristic of traditional poetry.

Shift and Resolution:

A notable shift occurs in the ninth stanza. The speaker's introspection moves from his present predicament to a memory of a past love ("the lass who made me smile"). This memory serves as the catalyst for the final resolution: a turn toward prayer.

In the final stanza, the speaker appeals to a higher power, "the Captain of my fate," to be saved from his "useless prodigal life" and "return my soul to my beautiful wife." This ending provides a clear direction and a potential escape hatch from the metaphorical sea of misery. The use of "prodigal" explicitly grounds the poem in a religious context, framing his journey as a period of wandering sinfulness before a hopeful return.

Critical Summary:

Overall, the poem is a competent, if somewhat conventionally expressed, piece of work. It adheres closely to traditional poetic forms and themes. Its strength lies in its sustained metaphor and evocative, if slightly clichéd, imagery. The language feels intentionally old-fashioned, which gives it a timeless feel but might lack the immediate emotional punch of more contemporary verse. The poem successfully charts a journey from profound isolation to hope found through memory and faith.

Wow! Here's another attempt

 

Disenchantment

 

How can you say you love me

When you know me not,

Not in that very special way that is?

Your splendid beauty, though

It doth delight mine eye

Yet veils the flaws

Of your capricious heart.

And when that beauty fades,

Pray sweetheart what remains?

And what else might

I find to criticise in thee?

Were I to love in earnest and

Ignore those foolish faults;

Just as you my love no doubt

Exchange those flaws in me

For praise or admiration and

In awe of my largesse.

 

These gentle poets’ words are

Merely garlands of the mind;

They’re meant for fools, and

Are alas imperfect tools.

One look can say it all,

One single act, a gesture

Or some stance but will

Reveal the darkest truth at last.

It is the actions of thine eye,

Thy mouth and countenance

That educates my heart and mind,

The words selected and expressed

That fortify and edify my

Deeper understanding of your soul.

In these minute perceptions I’ll reside and

Therefore say “No more of Love.”

 

No more, no less lest I fall prey

To my mind’s eye and then

Perceive in thee nor but

The errors of the world at large.

Yea love, I’ll say no more of love, if

After all my love has erred;

Being servant to my lustful eye,

Devoid of your sincerity and trust.

That I have cried more as

A man than in the days I was a child

Should come as no surprise to you I know

For all that cry in love

May share my sorry plight.

So, my dear God strike out mine evil eye

And let me live in peace! Or

Should I reconcile my sore mind’s eye

Unto the terrors of the beast within?

 

I might then know thee better

When I know myself being blinded so,

My lonesome beast now being wholly

Gratified might sleep awhile?

But, he’ll no doubt awake and

Seek to satisfy his hungry soul.

A simple soul that sorely weeps

When you’re not near to me.

Perhaps these words are then

Some sorry compensation for

The errors of existence,

The mortal errors born of fear?

This cankered grit that irritates

Mine eye might then in time

Become some heavenly pearl?

And that sole, shining pearl become

Some clear, undying tear?

 

This poem is a complex, philosophical meditation on the nature of love, beauty, illusion, and self-deception. It grapples with the speaker's skepticism about true love versus mere infatuation or lust, delivered in a formal, introspective voice. 

Critical Appraisal

Theme and Subject Matter

The central theme is a deep skepticism regarding the authenticity of proclaimed love, particularly when it seems based purely on physical attraction ("splendid beauty") or transactional admiration ("in awe of my largesse"). The speaker argues that genuine understanding ("know me not") requires seeing beyond the surface, observing actions ("One single act, a gesture") rather than relying on the "imperfect tools" of "gentle poets’ words" or fleeting passion. 

The poem also explores the internal conflict between the speaker's rational mind and his "lustful eye" or "beast within." He struggles with his own capacity for authentic love, fearing that his perceptions are clouded by desire or the "errors of existence." 

Tone and Diction

The tone is highly introspective, cynical, and somewhat melancholic, moving into existential contemplation by the final stanzas. The language is consciously formal, utilizing archaic diction ("doth delight mine eye," "thee," "thine," "yea love," "mine evil eye," "cankered grit"). This deliberate choice gives the poem an elevated, somewhat Victorian or Elizabethan feel, distinguishing it from casual contemporary verse. 

Structure and Form

The poem is written in free verse, lacking a consistent meter or predictable rhyme scheme, which stands in interesting contrast to its formal diction. The lines vary significantly in length, creating a conversational, stream-of-consciousness feel that mirrors the speaker's internal wrestling with abstract ideas. The lack of traditional structure allows the philosophical argument to flow organically, emphasizing the intellectual journey over musical harmony. 

Critical Analysis

Stanza 1 (lines 1-8): The opening sets up the core conflict: the perceived gap between spoken words of love and true knowledge of a person's character ("capricious heart"). The speaker instantly distrusts love based purely on appearance, predicting the eventual fading of beauty.

Stanza 2 (lines 9-16): The speaker turns the criticism inward, acknowledging a mutual exchange of "flaws" for "praise or admiration," suggesting a transactional, flawed dynamic in this relationship (and perhaps all relationships).

Stanza 3 & 4 (lines 17-31): A meta-commentary on poetry itself ("Merely garlands of the mind") dismisses eloquent words in favor of tangible actions and body language ("actions of thine eye, Thy mouth and countenance") as the true indicators of character. The speaker resolves to reside in "minute perceptions" and say "No more of Love" as a concept, preferring brutal honesty.

Stanza 5 & 6 (lines 32-51): The poem dives deeper into self-doubt. The speaker questions if his own "lustful eye" is the primary source of error. The dramatic plea, "So, my dear God strike out mine evil eye," highlights his desperation to escape the conflict between desire and truth. The mention of crying more as a man than a child adds a layer of emotional vulnerability beneath the cynical exterior.

Stanza 7 & 8 (lines 52-64): The ending reaches for a form of transcendence. The speaker wonders if blinding himself to superficial beauty might lead to self-knowledge ("When I know myself being blinded so"). The final metaphor of "cankered grit" transforming into a "heavenly pearl" offers a faint glimmer of hope: perhaps the pain, irritation, and errors of this difficult existence can be alchemized into something valuable or beautiful, even if it is just a "clear, undying tear."

Summary

The poem is a compelling, challenging piece of work that rejects sentimental notions of love. Its strength lies in its intellectual honesty and its sustained philosophical inquiry. While the formal diction can feel slightly affected, it successfully creates a powerful voice of a man wrestling with the limitations of human perception and the difficult path to authentic connection. It ultimately suggests that the pursuit of genuine understanding, while painful, may be the only path to a meaningful kind of love or peace.

Search Your Heart

I’ve learned to search my heart

To guide me through this present time,

I’ve learned to search my subtle mind

And to select the proper time and place

To play my poets’ part;

I’ve learned to search my heart.

 

I’ve learned to search my soul

At times when I could find it

And hear its soothing phrase extol

Though you were keen to bind it.

I‘ve felt the secrets in my soul,

I’ve learned to search my heart.

 

I’ve learned to search my body too,

Lest it might harbour any ill towards

My subtle heart and mind, they sometimes do,

And if my moral conscience could reprove

Those conflicts borne of hate and love,

I’ve learned to search my heart.

 

 

I’ve learned to search my mind

Alas, too often I’d construe

With many doubts of lesser kind,

Our recollections now being blind

In fading memories we knew,

And sought to search our heart.

 

I’ve learned to search my heart

It’s all an old and single man can do

To purge himself of hidden flaws.

So as this outer light withdraws

I’ll feign at least a hidden, silent part,

And thereby search my heart.

 

I’ve learned to search my heart,

Indeed my soul and spirit too

So now the final word is yours

When faced with all the options

Those closed or open doors,

The key to your solutions?

• Is learn to search your heart.

This poem, titled "Search Your Heart," acts as a reflective, meditative instruction manual for living a self-aware life, drawing on themes of introspection, aging, and moral clarity. It is a simple, earnest piece that directly addresses the reader after detailing the speaker's own lifelong journey.

Critical Appraisal

Theme and Message

The central message is explicitly stated and repeated as a mantra: one must learn to "search my heart" to find guidance, truth, and peace. The speaker presents introspection not just as a casual activity, but as a deliberate and necessary practice involving the mind, soul, and body. The poem advocates for self-honesty as a way to "purge himself of hidden flaws" as life, and old age ("outer light withdraws"), progresses.

The final stanza shifts from the speaker’s personal journey ("I've learned") to direct counsel for the reader ("The final word is yours"), presenting self-reflection as "The key to your solutions."

Tone and Diction

The tone is gentle, didactic, and philosophical. The language is accessible and straightforward, largely avoiding the complex or archaic diction of the previous poem. This simplicity makes the message clear and universally relatable. The repetition of the core phrase emphasizes a tone of practiced wisdom, as if the speaker is offering a hard-won, fundamental life lesson.

Structure and Form

The poem uses a clear, consistent structure of six stanzas, varying slightly in line count. The most dominant structural and stylistic device is repetition, both of the title/refrain "I’ve learned to search my heart" and the phrase "I’ve learned to search my [body, mind, soul, etc.]". This creates a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality, reinforcing the importance of the message being delivered.

The form is loose free verse, yet the refrain provides a strong anchor point. The use of bullet points in the final stanza is an unconventional choice that visually highlights the core advice, perhaps too overtly instructional for some literary tastes, but effective for the poem's purpose.

Critical Analysis

The poem’s strength lies in its sincerity and clarity. The speaker paints a holistic picture of self-examination:

• Heart and Mind: Seeking guidance and making proper choices ("select the proper time and place / To play my poets’ part").

• Soul: Finding solace ("soothing phrase extol") even amidst emotional constraints.

• Body: Acknowledging the physical self and its potential conflicts ("harbour any ill towards / My subtle heart and mind"), advocating for a reconciliation of physical and mental states.

The fourth stanza introduces a realistic obstacle to introspection: the fallibility of memory and the presence of doubt ("With many doubts of lesser kind, / Our recollections now being blind"). This adds a layer of depth, acknowledging that self-knowledge is not easy or perfect.

The poem concludes with an act of generosity—passing this knowledge onto the reader, offering the ultimate key to navigating life's "closed or open doors."

Summary

"Search Your Heart" is an accessible, earnest, and deeply personal poem that uses repetition effectively to drive home a central moral message. While it is less complex in its use of metaphor or highly sophisticated language than some other works, its clarity and sincerity make it a moving and practical piece of reflective verse. It successfully moves from personal testimony to universal advice.

 

Laughter:

 

The gaggle, the screech, the chuckle too,
The snorting guffaw, the giggling glue,
The devilish cackle, the roaring blast,
The uncontrollable spasm, the jerking gasp.
With side-splitting groans or insane screams
On your funny bones and nervous streams

That contagious laughter, those insane jokes,

That sly, wry smile from the comedy blokes

A chain reaction of rib-tickling pokes

The crowds’ descending meagre moans

In spasmodic succession both first and last.

This short poem is a vigorous, onomatopoeic celebration of the diverse sounds and physical effects of laughter. It functions primarily as a vibrant list poem, cataloguing the visceral experience of humour.

Critical Appraisal

Theme and Subject Matter

The core theme is the sheer kinetic energy and physical power of laughter. The speaker focuses less on why people laugh and more on how they laugh, emphasising the raw, sometimes undignified, physical reactions associated with strong humour: "guffaw," "gasp," "groans," "spasmodic succession." It highlights laughter's contagious nature and its ability to completely hijack the body.

Tone and Diction

The tone is energetic, chaotic, and enthusiastic. The language is descriptive and heavy with onomatopoeia and strong adjectives ("devilish," "uncontrollable," "insane," "rib-tickling"). The diction is deliberately varied to capture a wide range of sonic experiences—from the refined "chuckle" to the base "snorting guffaw." The use of words like "gaggle," "screech," and "cackle" gives the poem a slightly wild, untamed feel, perfectly mirroring the subject matter. 

Structure and Form

The poem consists of a single stanza of ten lines. It employs a simple AABB rhyme scheme that drives the quick, relentless pace of the verse, mimicking the rapid-fire succession of jokes or an escalating fit of laughter.

The rhythm is highly enérgico and driven by the rapid succession of descriptive phrases. The poet relies heavily on enumeration (listing) to build momentum. The line breaks are fast, keeping the reader moving through the various sounds without pause, creating a sense of breathlessness that mirrors a laughing fit. 

Critical Analysis

The poem’s strength lies in its sensory vividness and its successful use of sound devices. The alliteration in "giggling glue" and "comedy blokes" adds to the poem's musicality and fun, while the juxtaposition of the chaotic sounds with the slightly mysterious closing image ("The crowds’ descending meagre moans") provides a hint of structure or resolution, perhaps suggesting the gradual dying down of the laughter.

The final line and a half introduce a slight ambiguity with "meagre moans," suggesting the transition from mirth back to reality, or perhaps the physical exhaustion that follows intense laughter.

Summary

"Laughter" is a lively, effective poem that vividly captures the physical chaos and variety inherent in human mirth. Its rapid pace, strong imagery, and effective use of sound devices combine to create an engaging and accurate snapshot of the experience of being overcome by a fit of the giggles or a roaring guffaw.

Now I know where to go for feedback on my poetry....