Rate:4.7 / 12 votes

Death to the Poet

BC Byron

May 22 
Ballad
Death to the poet who opened our eyes
The silvery tongue that outed our lies
Death to the poet who pulled the disguise
And made all the sleepers arise

The lion of lines
The writer of right
The one whose letters carry more bite
Than the teeth of the dogs
Who started this fight

Death to the poet that cuts with his words
Refusing the weapons of a violent herd
Fists and bullets and rockets and drones
While they murder with guns
And pile up the bones
The poet strikes hearts with his stones

About this poem

Poets fight with words. Poetry is a powerful way to make a point or even change minds, but sometimes writing these peircing words can put a harsh spotlight on the poet.

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Written on June 30, 2021

Submitted by BCByron on May 10, 2022

Modified on May 03, 2023

29 sec read
1,282

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAAA XBBXB XXCXCC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 493
Words 98
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 4, 5, 6
Full analysis for Death to the Poet »

BC Byron

 · 1982 · Idaho

Children's author, electrical engineer, father, poet. B.C. Byron writes many poems for kids and teens and illustrates them in his spare time (when he should be sleeping) to post on his blog. He also writes thoughtful poetry for adults. Everything around him is a poem just waiting to be written. more…

All BC Byron poems | BC Byron Books

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Discuss the poem Death to the Poet with the community...

11 Comments
  • delano
    delano
    It's so dark. I love it
    LikeReply2 months ago
  • icanovic.sumeja
    icanovic.sumeja
    Lovely!
    LikeReply3 months ago
  • myway6119
    myway6119
    That's really good.
    LikeReply 21 year ago
  • luisestable1
    luisestable1
    This good poem may one think of the famous words, " The pen is mightier than the sword."
    Yes, people have been murdered for what they have said or written.
    Good read!
    LikeReply 21 year ago
  • bad_horse
    bad_horse
    This is one of my top contenders for Poem of the Year.
    LikeReply 21 year ago
    • BCByron
      BCByron
      thank you! It's an honor just to have people reading and enjoying it.
      LikeReply1 year ago
  • lovingempath
    lovingempath
    Even more powerful this time around!!
    LikeReply 21 year ago
    • BCByron
      BCByron
      I'm so happy to have this one come back into view. Thank you for your kind comment.
      LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Philipo
    Philipo
    Fine work here. Poets act as Hester's of old. Find it difficult to talk to any influential of society?- meet them.
    LikeReply 21 year ago
    • BCByron
      BCByron
      hello and thank you for reading
      LikeReply1 year ago
  • robertrad2021
    robertrad2021
    Excellent, i agree, to write poetry is a trying feat.
    LikeReply 62 years ago
  • maxb.38968
    maxb.38968
    The message of the poem is horrible. Makes me not want to write anymore poems, or at least not submit any here. I'm out, good luck with your garbage contest
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • ivrybe
      ivrybe
      Ironic...
      LikeReply 42 years ago
    • lovingempath
      lovingempath
      Your sour attitude will not be missed. Good luck in your travels.
      LikeReply1 year ago
  • CindyG
    CindyG
    After reading all of the poems that I DID read, and I'm sorry I didn't have time to read them all, this one stuck out in my mind. It really says it all, and is a bit of an oxymoron. Very well written.
    LikeReply 32 years ago
  • twistedshadows1002
    twistedshadows1002
    The imagery is subtle but still vivid at the same time.
    LikeReply 32 years ago

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"Death to the Poet" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 25 Jan. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/129130/death-to-the-poet>.

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