Critics Be Kind Poem by Chris Embrick

Does the poet bare his soul
For critics words to scar and flay
Though quatrain reach lofty goal
Some dragons only come to slay
And brush the poet's words away
And never hear the things they say
Use their pen a bloody saber
Taste the cake and miss its flavor.

For those who pick clean other's thoughts
With quill ready, full of hemlock
It's only fair the truth be sought
For those too quick to judge and mock
Some poems have secrets to unlock
Some reminisce, turn back the clock
Must not be tossed and go to waste
Some poems are worth more than a taste.

Not Shakespeare to be honest, fair
Some poems indeed need a punch
Some critics leave no room to spare
Dissect a poem, desire too much
Some pride their vitriolic touch
Compare to Shelley, Keats, and such
Refuse to give a second look
The poem at last its pages rooked.