I have a question for you
Is it something to do
With life’s university
That I can thrive in adversity
Shrug off the bad critique
Or the abuse of my technique
Cry “hell no, I am me,”
In the face of my enemy
Oh yes, I can wield fire
If you mock my desire
I can shoot to kill
If you question my skill
But say, “Well done
You are great in my opinion?”
Anything but that
Please launch another attack
I crumble into modesty
If someone tells me honestly
They read my work and liked it
I feel sick
Why is this?
Because I can’t take, so I can’t give
And other people deserve praise
Regardless of my malaise
Put me in a war zone
And I will take you all on
But threaten me with love
And I will run
and run
and run
Rule of Stupid 
You’re all that and more. 🙂 Wonderful introspective work. Thank you for sharing yourself. Many eyes upon you don’t have the courage just yet to do the same. Panda, All one must do to see that you care and love, and need care and love is to pay attention. 🙂 Running is what it is. Hope every-once-in-a-while, you slow down long enough to soak in the bounty. ~G
Thanks TAS. I think it’s a very British thing to evade praise, but also I see it in a lot of artists, who are perhaps too aware of not feeling entirely responsible for their work (some ‘divine’ inspiration if you will).
While it’s something I struggle with sometimes, this is more a ‘general’ poem.
It’s great to get such supportive feedback – I will take a bath in it 😀
The receiver of poetry always seeks for meaning and translates that meaning personally. I guess subjectivity is a part of the beauty of the relationship between writer and reader. Enjoy your bath. 🙂 ~G
But you’re lovely…panda…panda….come back….;-)
Noooo… you said nice things, I’m off…!
“everybody runs” the only question is are they running “from” or “to”. I’ve always dealt better with adversity than praise. Well written poem.
Thanks Moby. Me – I run at the mouth! 😉
better the mouth than the other end. 🙂 Sheesh I can’t believe I said that. Sorry.
Hey, a fellow runner – it’s all good 😀
LOL, Mike, you know I am going to praise this poem, and you will be running again–but at least I am not damning you with faint praise or praising you with faint damns…check this one out, kind of on the same subject
http://susandanielspoetry.com/2012/08/22/everyones-a-better-poet/
Your poem hits it for me, just shuffling what’s already out there. Plus, ‘proper’ poets do it much better. (The Wasteland has more study, reference, imagery etc. than a lifetime of my poetry).
On the other hand, I like my stuff in the same way I like to knock one out every now and then! (It’s not clever but it feels nice 😉 )
🙂 exactly.
I research for my more “meatier” pieces, and often wonder what I could do if I ditched the day job and went at this full force. Then I regain my sanity and go back to the day job 😉
People want profits, not poets today, alas!