Poetry Partners #32
‘Poem of Atonement’, a poem by Adam Taylor of ‘Adam’s Poems Etc…’
we have slandered we have robbed we have bribed we have wrought wickedness we have lied we have provoked we have trespassed we have transgressed we have oppressed we have rebelled we have abominated we have wallowed in evil but otherwise we think we’ve done quite well
- Adam Taylor: https://www.adamspoemsetc.com/
A tanka by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’
no take-backs; no god; no redemption; nothing will change the past, nor cleanse us of our selves; the pain ends with death; drugs; desperate lies
Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
List of Poetry Partners
- Murisopsis
- Judy Dykstra-Brown
- Jennifer Patino
- Mike L. Utley
- Barbara Schaefer
- Ron Rowland
- Cheyenne MacMasters
- Rae Cod
- Eric Erb
- Chris Reilley
- Jim-
- Selma Martin
- Vidah (Chavi)
- varityteller
- Veera
- Kunjal Gupta
- Coco
- Lov Verma
- bodypositivefemme
- Steven S. Wallace
- Shay Simmons
- Constance Bourg
- C. L. Barton
- Madamchryzl
- Sangeetha
- Jo
- Audrey Duff
- Gillena Cox
- Yasmin
- Martha Anewa
- Malalai Khan
- Adam Taylor
- trE
- Cindy Georgakas
- Punam
- davidatqcm
- Orion Foote
- Susi Bocks
- Mister Bump UK
- Kate Blake
- Freddie Omm
- kittysverses
- enchantedwords
- Saint Gaona
- Alan Steinle
- Karina Lutz
- Sarah David
- Beka Tucker
- Maria L. Berg
- Colleen M. Chesebro
- Jane Aguiar
- Jan Beekman
- royalpalmtree
- Marian
- M Jay Dixit
- Ken Hume
- Naa Lamiorkor Boye
- Reena Saxena
- Bridget
- Ash Evan Lippert
- Mike L. Utley
- Hadizat Motherconfessor
- Murisopsis
- Cindy Georgakas
- Swathi Rao
- Freya Pickard
- Harshi
- LaMon Brown
- Nomad
- Vedran Markovic
- The.Richard.Braxton
- Kim Whysall-Hammond
- Jeff Flesch
- hutschi
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Anca
- douryeh
- enchantedwords
- Kerfe
- Puvanesvari Rajan
- MistyBlue
- Henry Mworia
- Anna Smit
- Larry Trasciatti
- Sarah Cope
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Robert J. Jr.
- Rosemary McMahan
- Iswar Kar
- Mapule Somo
- Anne Morrigan
- George Ellington
- J. P.
- Christine Bialczak
- Shalini Kathuria Narang
- LaToya Williams
- Maitreyee Telang
- Amelia Michelle Nicol
- A. J. Wilson
- Nick Pipitone
- Myrna Migala
- Kathy Labrum McVittie
- Dawn Pisturino
- Eugenia
- Tea Solon
- Marion Horton
- Hassan Safdar
- Grace Y. Estevez – Reddy
- Eileen Backman
- Suzette Benjamin
- Candace
- Tarlie Francis
- Aishwarya Kannan
- Michaël
- Mary Anne Abdo
- Benjamin Nambu
- Scotti Woolery-Price
- Ara
- Sean Matthews
- Joy A. Burki-Watson
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Di
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Christine Bialczak
- Rob Kistner
- Michaël
- Sarah Cope
- Stephanie Malley
- musingsbymac
- Verne Ivars Krastins
- Brandon Ellrich
- Tallisman
- kalabalu
- Kunjal Gupta
- Malalai Khan
- Mary Anne Abdo
- M. Snyder
- Sherry Lens
- Barbara Dean Aliaga
- Devine Success
- Veera
- Maria Pavlova
- Kevin L. Perrin
- Alex Budris
- Wm. “Mark” Parry
- Rayla
- Rayla
- Artem Miachin
- Jeff Lee
- Artem Miachin
- Tanmay Philip
- Dee
- Tricia Sankey
- Cassa Bassa
- 3L
- Charles
- WickedLizzie
- L. M. Montes
- Marsha Ingrao
- WickedLizzie
- Jan Beekman
- Neha Singh
- Kaci Rigney
- Kaci Rigney
- Irobiko Chimezie Kingsley
- Gareth David Ogilvie
- Marvin Tordillos
- Jaideep Khanduja
- Poetisatinta
- Kiri Salazar
- Sadje
- Destiny
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Jaideep Khanduja
- Kaci Rigney
- Jan Beekman
- Karima Hoisan
- Melissa Lemay
The endings are dark and true. Love the cynicism! Conveys the irony. 🙂
🧡💝 Terveen 💝🧡
Both dark delineating hopelessness, both powerful writes. ❤️
💕 Punam 💕
Stinging sarcasm by Adam Taylor and yours is a sobering response. Well done you two!
❤ Michele ❤
Well hello, hello! This tanka seems like the perfect reply to Adam’s poem! Loved it 🙂
❤ Veera ❤ – thanks
Describes humanity in a nutshell. (K)
❤ Kerfe ❤
Ack. Despair. 😦 Nice poetry as always, though!
❤ CIndy ❤ – thanks.
It's not despair though – it's just an honest account of the human condition, from my perspective. Life is pain – I embrace that particular Buddhist idea.
Both poems very dark but the first is an example of blindness and the second of hopelessness! I’m crossing my fingers that neither is truth for the poets!
For me, the first brings to the light the hypocrisy of repeated religious confessions for the purpose of redemption, and the second one simply describes life as it really is – with no sugar coating.
The whole truth.
❤ Paul ❤ – and nothing but the truth.
Indeed, and wonderfully expressed
Bravo to both of you! 👌🏻❤
❤ Filipa ❤
Both of these are brutal, dark and effective. Plenty of truth in each as well. 🙂
Yeah – brutal is spot on, Mike. Thanks!
❤
David
I enjoyed reading Adam’s poem , especially the last two lines. As always , your response tanka is great, David. Incredible work! 🙂
❤ Aishwarya ❤ – thank so much, truly.
-David