A Welcome Yoke

My sweetheart, you work like two keys
unlocking my shy tendencies.
Like a chess piece, your presence frees
me from myself – worst enemies. 
Your strength brings to mind young oak trees.

Your notches and grooves satisfy
need for attention, you supply.
Then securing our doors whereby
my reluctance you rectify.

On life’s chess board, we’re residents.
Castling’s allowed but your presence
guards our pawns from my reticence.

Life’s holes can still leave me depressed,  
but safe in your limbs I find rest.

You lift me high, my steady oak.

Melting in your arms, I unfreeze,
my king, my defense, my great guy.
Your keys fit the lock common sense.
We are a team, we’ve coalesced;
all’s kept in check under your yoke.


written March 29, 2018

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 4/29/2018 7:25:00 PM
Now this is the kind of oak I can cheer for! (I put oak down in another poem of mine because of an anology I was making) Anyway, marvelous write, Reason. Congrats!
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Reason A. Poteet
Date: 4/30/2018 6:50:00 AM
You never fail to keep things in perspective, Andrea, I’ll have to see if you’ve posted that oak piece. Thanks for the read and reply, ‘Tis appreciated.
Date: 4/29/2018 2:28:00 PM
This hooked me from the git, Reason, and is such a wonderful write, with superb imagery and rhythm, in a very difficult form that you handled with expertise! Romantic and sensual, with extraordinary metaphor - I can tell you put a lot of thought into this - love it! Congratulations on your placement, and thank you for entering my contest! :-)
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Reason A. Poteet
Date: 4/30/2018 6:53:00 AM
Thanks Gregory, I welcome the placement in a very different/difficult form contest. Helps me remember chremamorphism...if ever I should find occasion to use it again.
Date: 4/29/2018 8:13:00 AM
A fun poem, Reason. Congrats on your win.
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Reason A. Poteet
Date: 4/29/2018 1:57:00 PM
Thanks, Line, this is my second minuanetta; the first one stuck in my craw every time I read it. This one I can at least swallow. Appreciate your time and energy
Date: 4/8/2018 3:31:00 PM
This is amazingly perfect for the contest! A great write with imagery and flow. Good luck in the contest.
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Gentry Avatar
Susan Gentry
Date: 4/29/2018 2:54:00 PM
I did. I am new at free verse too and found it difficult but challenging and I love a challenge. I could never get okay with the last stanza, don't know if it was me or I was doing it wrong. I think I'll do another one now that I've read others. I think I may have complicated it myself way too much. Yours is really good. Congratulations on your placement win.
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Reason A. Poteet
Date: 4/8/2018 3:47:00 PM
I could only wish you were the host. But I truly appreciate your comment especially since it came before this contest was judged. Did you enter a minuanetta?
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