My first poem for my Slam poetry class

[Taylor Richelle]

Hey guys! I am taking my first poetry class ever this year and it's not just regular poetry it's called slam poetry. If you don't know what it is, I would look it up on Youtube, it's pretty powerful stuff depending on the topic! Anyway here is my first one. I read it out to my class but I know they didn't feel as strongly about it as I did. Being a horse lover.

Anyway tell me what you guys think

​

Will I ever be free?

 

I was born into this world with my life planned out for me

You used to smile and laugh when I would run recklessly

I used to be loved...

As I grew older your love rapidly vanished

Speed was all you cared for

You didn’t look at me the same, all you saw was fame

I was too be the next “big one”

I knew I wasn’t cut out for this...

Yet you continued to push me even when

I didn’t cross that line first over and over again

the very line that would shoot me towards fame or

send me down the road to heck

Once you realized I wasn’t your “Shining star”

You had me loaded onto a trailer

you didn’t even have the heart to say goodbye

I was taken far away into the unknown

I couldn’t see out but I knew deep down

where I was headed, a dead end for dead beats like me

I just wanted to be free.

As I got closer and closer I knew I was there. A place

that could only be described as heck

A place so horrible I wouldn’t even wish it on my enemies. The smell of cold rotting flesh lingered in my nose. The ear piercing screams that left my ears ringing.

The door swung open and I could see out.

Finally I was able to see where that godawful smell was coming from. Numerous remains withering away, as if being washed away by the rain.

I was reluctant as I made my way down the ramp.

It felt like a lifetime before I was able to place my feet on the muddy soil.

My legs felt as if they were made of stone.

I refused to go any further.

One quick lash from the beast behind me and I leapt onward.

I was lead into the darkness

When my eyes started to adjust I was able to make out the scene before me.

Pure terror shot through me. This was it.

The beast tied me up. I couldn’t move.

In my last moments I thought of You

You’re the reason I was here.

I may not have been born for speed but I was born to be yours.

Yet you didn’t want me. You threw me away like I was nothing.

 

It happened so quickly I hadn’t a clue what was happening till it was too late.

Suddenly the pain shot through me...but only for a moment and then it was over.

I was taken out of this world. Forever. I just want you too know,

In those last moments, I thought of You.

You never loved me you loved what I could have been, but never was.

Yet that didn’t matter now.

I was free.

​

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Oh my. I love the moral about not loving the animal for what he is, only what he could be, and your phrasing is powerful there. I liked the part at the end where his last thought was his owner. You lost me a bit emotionally at "cold rotting flesh" and "numerous remains withering away" as my understanding was slaughter houses wouldn't make money if they let the remains lie around and rot, but that's me being a neurotic stickler for details.

The true horror IMO should remain with the betrayal of the horse, his being callously thrown away with so many other lost souls, and you went back to that point at the end with the pain only being for a moment and then him being free. Expand on that! Make that scene a moment of joyous freedom, of finding somewhere he can finally explode over the finish line a winner in spite of his foolish owner.

You're a very powerful writer, Taylor, and I think you did great. Can you tell us more about slam poetry? I don't want to wade through 50 million youtube videos trying to get a feel for what the conventions are.

Leia

 

[Lizzie]

Loved it TR!!!!

I haven't done any slam poetry, but have written a poetry book on Gypsy Horses. Here is one I wrote...

FOR I WAS BORN A GYPSY HORSE

 

I care not

What they think of me.

Those who would, behind cupped hands,

But whisper low

And question the Heritage

From whence I came.

For in my heart

I hold the memories

And quiet strength

Of generations long ago.

But when the spring comes back

And warms the earth once more,

I will remember well

A soft green place,

Where first I took a breath.

And distant meadows clear,

Dotted all about

With others, of my kind.

I shall remember too

Of days between the shafts

And trotting proudly to the Fair,

With caravan of brightly painted hue.

The soft spring rain upon my face

In early morn,

To herald, yet another day.

The summer days on country lanes,

All aglow with Buttercups.

The winter's eve, by campfire glow,

When I did see

An early snowflake fall

And felt a small child

Grasp close my neck and run her fingers

Through my hair, for warmth.

But when that last morn comes

That wicked hand of fate

When all about me dim from view

And all the footprints I did leave

Are covered well by sands of time,

I shall smile at their indifference

And know I was indeed much Blessed

For I was born

A Gypsy Horse.

 

 

Lizzie

 

[bevann]

Great poem.Makes me again realize that we are a throw away society when it comes to many animals.Great people on this thread often tell such nice stories about their care for the less than perfect animals that many of us own.I think each animal is special in its own way.

 

[Tammy Breckenridge]

Wow, That made me cry! I could see in my mind eye that poor scared horse.