Rhythms of Resistance

By Robert Martin

PROMPT — The way I see it ...

In the gritty alleys where shadows dance,

Amidst the chaos, a poetic trance.

In a street fight's fray, words collide,

Verses as weapons, where poets abide.

Stanzas are swords, sharp and keen,

Metaphors cutting through the unseen.

Rhymes echo like punches thrown,

In the arena of words, power is known.

A sonnet may weave a shield of grace,

Guarding against the punches in the face.

Lyrical lines, a dance of finesse,

Dodging the chaos, a poetic chess.

Haikus swift as a ninja's strike,

In seventeen syllables, emotions spike.

Each syllable a jab, a poetic feat,

Turns the battleground into a rhythmic beat.

With similes and metaphors, we spar,

Crafting verses, leaving a poetic scar.

In the art of language, the battle unfolds,

A symphony of words, as the story is told.

The pen is mightier than the fist,

In the street fight of words, persist.

For poetry's strength lies not just in ink,

But in the verses that make adversaries think.

So, let the verses be the battleground,

Where poets in street fights are renowned.

In the chaos of words, let truth ignite,

For poetry prevails in the darkest night.

---

Robert Martin, a Denver native, began writing as therapy after retiring from his career in printing and publishing. His doctor suggested writing to keep his cognitive abilities sharp. Instead of searching for keys, Robert tackles writing challenges, facing procrastination and anxiety about resonating with readers. He has one published short story in Write Wrong or Otherwise, an anthology by Nat 1 Publishing, and several stories accepted for publication in 2025 and 2026. He and his wife enjoy traveling with their two dogs in a fifth-wheel trailer and exploring new places in his free time. Robert writes from Arvada, Colorado.