Spiral Staircase

Discuss the poem Spiral Staircase with the community...

https://www.poetry.com/poem/175572/spiral-staircase

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  emergentauthor

  This is one of the most unique poems I've ever read. I love the use of metaphor and figurative language throughout the poem with the hurtful words being represented as "stabbing knives" and "puncturing" someone else's confidence. The "broken flashlight" metaphor was also very clever. This poem was well crafted, and I can see the care taken in every step of its design just like each stanza in the poem feels like a literal step down the spiral staircase of the mountain that the speaker of the poem was trying to carefully dismount. I love the way the poem starts-how top is in the first line and bottom is in the bottom line of the first stanza, very clever. This poem was also very positive. I like the idea of a poem being like a journey from one spot to another for the reader; it should take the reader places. And this poem is a metaphorical representation of that idea in a way, with the focus being on the journey of this person's life, which had ups and downs, and was clearly not perfect, but the speaker of the poem was able to overcome the struggle in his or her life and reach the destination. I love the fact that there is no punctuation and the choppy line breaks and shortness of each line make the reader feel vertigo and tense just like the speaker of the poem. Love how the whole poem's spiral staircase only represents one, single mountain in the person's journey, and then you realize when you get to the bottom w more »

  LikeReply4 months ago
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    sarahella19

    Wow! I truly have no words for the kindness you express. It means a lot to me that you feel my poem was even worth the vote! The fact that you had felt the emotions, is rewearing in itself and is a major win to me!! Just wow!! Thank you!! more »

    LikeReply 14 months ago
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    sarahella19

    Wow!! Thank you so much for the kindness you expressed! It means a lot to me that you felt my poem was worth a vote!! The fact that you were able to feel the emotions throughout, is so rewarding in itself and that is a major win to me!! I can’t believe you think so highly of it it just blew me away, Just Wow!!! Thank you so much for the consideration!! more »

    LikeReply 14 months ago
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    emergentauthor

    You are so welcome, Sarahella19! I love analyzing poetry and have been writing since I was 6. You are a very talented writer. I love your conviction and the purpose of your goal to move readers. Extremely clever and reminds me of a free verse poem I wrote that feels like someone tiptoeing across the page. If you have not, check out "The Morning Fog," the sonnet I wrote that won a runner's up spot in the competition. Also, I write for a science fiction magazine and perform my poetry live on a YouTube poetry podcast called Rattlecast put on by Rattle Magazine out of California and would like to invite you to be a part of the family. We go on on Monday nights; show starts at 8pm. I usually go on between 9:15-10ish, and you are more than welcome to watch the show, and also participate and read any of your poetry on the show if you would like but you must use zoom to actually make an appearance on the show. It is very nice to meet you, Sarah! more »

    LikeReply4 months ago
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    sarahella19

    first and foremost, I don’t know why my reply went through twice!! That’s annoying haha, and it’s so kind of you to say I have a hard time believing it’s anything special but I don’t write for the comments, I write to help unmute important voices! I appreciate your offer and I will think about it!! I absolutely will check out that poem!! more »

    LikeReply 14 months ago
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    emergentauthor

    Thanks, Sarah! No worries about the double trouble, ha, ha.

    LikeReply4 months ago