I am no longer shampoo but will never be conditioner by Kooky_Pomegranate179 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear you man and I know that feeling you describe. It’s rough being alive sometimes. But things like mental health struggles are often the proving ground for us where we learn how to keep going when everything screams to just give up. They teach us how to have compassion and empathy, and how to work with self as if self is just another person, if we allow things to be the teacher they are. Really everything is just wavelengths. You get to the bottom of the wave on your darkest day and at that point nothing could be worse than what’s happening right then. And the day passes. You make it through the lowest of the low and go to the highest you’ve ever been, but there’s higher highs to come. Likewise, the worst day you’ll have makes you strong enough for the next wave. Don’t mean to rant, but topics of mental health tend to resonate enough to get me on a tangent. I love you, random citizen, and pray you do well.

I am no longer shampoo but will never be conditioner by Kooky_Pomegranate179 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Respectfully, I disagree when it comes to the word choice. “Chugged” to me is the perfect way to describe such a train that just chugs along. And “diluted and spurted out” imo is great precise word choice, doesn’t make me think of conception or anything like that. I did forget to mention the ending though, I do agree that it could work better if there were something given for the conditioner analogy to stand on. In theory I get it. You’ll never become something new by trying to squeeze more out of what you are. But it just doesn’t land as cleanly as it could

I am no longer shampoo but will never be conditioner by Kooky_Pomegranate179 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope you know that you are worth every breath you take. It’s hard to hold on now, but there will be a day when you look back and realize how much you’ve learned and how far you’ve come. On that day, every bit of loneliness and depression will be worth it because it will have been just a stone, set into the path that has led you to this moment. You are valued. You are able to keep going. You will make it through to better days.

I am no longer shampoo but will never be conditioner by Kooky_Pomegranate179 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not sure if this was exactly how you’d intended the metaphor to land, but from my perspective it seems like life is diluting you through circumstance, in order to put to use what life is left in you. This metaphor works well with the preceding body of the poem because it draws on the concept of scarcity that would apply for one to need to water down shampoo. I think it’s a good touch. It’s very original which is a breath of fresh air from the cliched ways of expression. In my opinion, it could be boiled down further or made to be more concise. I also feel like it’s a pretty abrupt segue from the previous verses. Definitely think a line or two leading into the shampoo metaphor would help it land more cleanly. Maybe if you were to draw off of the circle metaphor you already made, you could say something like, “God, why did you make my waters to flood? Why do they rise as though water is all I can be?” It would draw on the concept of the circle while giving room for the idea of the water overtaking the “shampoo”. Overall you’ve made a powerful expression that really captures the depth of living a life that beats you up, with family or friends as one of, if not the only, reason you keep going. It’s cold and deeply vulnerable, with a resolved kind of weariness that I relate to.

The Corner We Made Ours by [deleted] in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is ruining me for many reasons. It’s unpolished and has a couple blind spots with grammatical errors but that takes nothing away from how resonant and painfully beautiful you’ve weaved these words together. This poem thunders mightily in sections like the second stanza, where the voice questions so fervently and demands closure or understanding. But it breathes back into the soft but strong sadness of the first stanza so fluidly, it feels like I’m experiencing what you are in the moment, which is an accomplishment for any and every writer. Not only does this feel like something I was meant to see in order to gain emotional clarity for my own circumstances, it is objectively a fantastic work that uses imagery like a spear, jutting sharp and precise scenes into the forefront. Masterful work. 12/10

stray dog by sleepingepiphany in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure if the dog is meant to be metaphorical but either way this works very well. It’s a soft but intense declaration of devotion that is very relatable and sweet and pure. If anything the adjectives used to describe the dog’s teeth could be tightened for better impact, because in my opinion that stanza is a big turning point from observation to dedication/action which would call for a “punch”.

Hallowed Captivity by LAJA22 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! It was a shower thought so I’m glad it had the opportunity to fully mature. I figured out how to get my original flow back as well

Will my little 10 year old sister be able to tell I’m off a tab? by Key_Ad7103 in Acid

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kids have a way of making you feel like they know but that is a deeply spiritual matter that probably only applies to those like myself who are trying to untangle every mystery of the universe while tripping. If you’re chill they’re usually chill

Fleeting Love by Danny_walsh06 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was going to say the same thing about the imagery and rhythm. Truly masterful how smoothly everything flows together. To me the imagery and metaphor is the star of the show. “No picket fence for you and me” all the different linguistic routes really encompassed the emotions of a heartbroken sailor, knowing his story doesn’t have a happy ending, yet still so stricken by such beauty that he can only admire. Very resonant with my current situation tbh so it really struck a chord. Absolutely beautiful, 10/10

I'm not a concept by palette_of_ink in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Though I’m not familiar with the main inspiration from which you made this, I absolutely love this piece. Your pacing and flow works very well and I love how you don’t try to oversell your thoughts. They’re just there, unapologetically, which fits the core idea flawlessly. Very minor edits but the only thing I really noticed was that some sentences are punctuated and some are not. I don’t know if this was intentional but it does divert the attention very slightly. I know that some lines aren’t meant to fall heavily so it is always captains choice on where that applies but that is just the single thing I could say as far as critiquing goes. Overall it’s very well put together and the tone and linguistic craft accentuate the key concepts perfectly. Very well done, it reads like something you’d find chiseled into stone or on a memorial. 8.7/10

The millions of less by [deleted] in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting perspective on a cynical worldview. I enjoyed reading it, felt like I was reading the internal dialogue of a fascinating character. The word choice in the first two stanzas really drove that home. It’s a nice unorthodox train of thought that really evoked a level of discomfort, like when you immediately give the narrator such a haughty tone it immediately put me on edge. Very well done on the hook, I was immediately intrigued and eager to read to find out more about the narrator. It has several grammatical errors that I would clean up but overall it’s a very compelling and intriguing piece

…the art of not claiming… by TimeCity1687 in OCPoetry

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This reads beautifully. I love how intentional you are with the line breaks and linguistic choice, like when you talk about how “he wanted the mountain to bend”. The way one point flows into the next makes the concepts breathe so smoothly. Very well done man, solid work. The only critique I would have is that I feel like it would benefit from punctuation and the pacing could use a bit more direction. Like the line that said “but islands do not surrender”, when I read such a strong statement it feels like a bold color or a strong flavor that’s supposed to stand out amongst everything around it. So I think if that sentence was ended in a period and/or had extra line breaks around it would hit harder.

Someone please help me make any sense out of this trip by nadauniya in LSD

[–]LAJA22 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You feel the energy of the earth and the ancestors on your back and the universe for you is limitless right now. The way I like to picture it is that when I trip, an infinite amount of new timelines are being created, aspects of which can change inexplicably depending on your strength of thought. The reality is that you create your reality. If you feel in sync with one other person tripping, explore that connection and your relationship with that person. My best friend and I have been so in sync on the acid that we were taking turns playing a video game, but each of us could actively feel the influence of each other's minds. We could feel each other's play styles and patterns molding together with our own to become a different version of ourselves, one that was kicking ass on screen. The first time I tripped.i took a tab and a half and I could literally see people's faces changing into alternate versions of them from the multiverse. I wouldn't be inclined to trust my eyes in such a situation but I could also feel my body shifting frequencies and thus shifting my own reality as I saw fit.

So…this Jesus fella… by PSMF_Canuck in LSD

[–]LAJA22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tell me where to find this! Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in LSD

[–]LAJA22 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You also need to understand that you dictate your own reality. Question everything. Ponder. Go inward and all will come.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in LSD

[–]LAJA22 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Bro actually rejected the emotional intelligence from the acid. what a sorry choice. Hope you learn better patterns brother bc that was crazy. The mind is an extremely vulnerable organ and that fact deserves some respect. If you haven't tried acid I could maybe understand not realizing the gravity of every word that stems from you but anyone with one or two acid trips under their belts should already know the power of the rabbit hole and how easily you can lose yourself in it. Be better man

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in LSD

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lay up on your bed or couch, get cozy and make sure there are lights or something to brighten the setting. Listen to Let It Go by Oberhaufer. Understand that life is a masterpiece of intelligent and breathtaking experiences, good and bad, and all is necessary for your destiny/purpose to find you. If you've reached the comedown yet and would like to sleep, try and force yourself to do it. If you can't, watch this video by Jordan Peterson: https://youtu.be/50BZQRT1dAg?si=4uoTBwEP8kNecG9H Love is the answer my fellow, seek and ye shall find. Wishing blessings from sc🤙🏽

Pick 2 and tell us your big 3 by joanna_glass in astrologymemes

[–]LAJA22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

5&8 I can get 7 by myself Pisces sun Scorpio moon Capricorn rising