Sometimes



Sometimes a shorter poem speaks best...
on justice,
power,
and
unrest.
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Written on July 07, 2021

Submitted by Soulwriter on April 06, 2023

Modified on April 25, 2023

4 sec read
178

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABCDA
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 70
Words 14
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 5

Charlotte Cohen

 · 1987 · London

Charlotte is a born teacher, lifelong learner and lover of all things literary. She considers herself an amateur poet and believes that all should have the chance to compose...whether it be art, music, or poetry! more…

All Charlotte Cohen poems | Charlotte Cohen Books

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Discuss the poem Sometimes with the community...

20 Comments
  • ladyygracious
    Nice one
    LikeReply2 days ago
  • Akinpet23
    Short , simple and relative
    LikeReply9 days ago
  • rebekaspear42
    So true, short poems are my favorite
    LikeReply2 months ago
  • angien.26919
    True. I express myself through poetry or just writing down whatever I'm feeling/going through, even when its short,I know those who listen to hear will understand.
    LikeReply2 months ago
  • nelzealoursmotoe1
    Short but full of food for thought
    LikeReply3 months ago
  • alanswansea18
    Beautiful.
    LikeReply6 months ago
  • grs5757
    simple and complete but not without thought and talent
    LikeReply7 months ago
  • nwafor_a
    Yes, I add love. Meaningful short piece.
    LikeReply7 months ago
  • hamiltonkim03
    Simple and says it all. Less is more.
    LikeReply8 months ago
  • smahalanobis2008
    It's simply brilliant. What amazing simplicity!
    LikeReply11 months ago
  • ritchiechelle
    Beautiful in its simplicity. A perfect example of less saying more.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • MaxwellBurchett
    Yes, sometimes best. Although more difficult. But you've done it here. Kudos! Max
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Caliconine
    Yes, I love short poems, with big messages. Thank you for sharing. Write On
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • dcoad
    Less is more. I know what you mean. Nice work.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Charles2
    i imagine... this to be a spark from the mind/experience. A beginning/kindling to an open ended exploration of who we are at heart ...to impel the reader to grasp the idea and let it flow.
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Vixility
    I feel like this poem rings true and immediately enjoyed it. The line breaks after the ellipsis were well chosen (something free verse writers often seem to have difficulty with), and I like how the poet ties the end-rhyme of the first line (best) with the last word of the poem (unrest): a subtle but powerful way to conclude her piece.

    I also appreciate the poet's allusion to some of the most tragically important aspects of human existence: how true justice falls into the hands of a power-hungry collective which invariably results in unrest (my take on the poem's suggestion).

    As to the poem's brevity: who has the authority, really, to judge it as a viable piece or not? I would challenge anyone to begin by defining what poetry is first (and make no mistakes, that is not easy), and only then to critique the work above.

    Ezra Pound's short poem, "In a Station of the Metro", is highly recognized for its brevity, and is famous:

    "The apparition of these faces in the crowd:
    Petals on a wet, black bough."

    Condense the poem "Sometimes" into a similar couplet-like expression and tell me why it is less poetical:

    "Sometimes a shorter poem speaks best...
    on justice, power, and unrest."

    Yeah, this is a really good poem, and I salute the poet's creative perspective.
     
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • cokerrogers
    True
    LikeReply 21 year ago
  • dougb.19255
    Fewer the words. The more suggestive? Not.
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • dougb.19255
    Do not just title it. Detail it. Speak your heart. Sorry to say that I find Haiku-like poetry un-appealing. Might as well just have stayed home. Other entries from you do demonstrate how you do have the goods. Go back to that Charlotte. 
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • baways
    I agree
    LikeReply 11 year ago

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"Sometimes" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 19 Jan. 2025. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/155683/sometimes>.

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