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Free Verse

ASSisted Living


Elder abuse endemic

free to roam the land

Preying on the weakest souls

willing by command

 

Targeting new victims

infirm and oft alone

Fangs sink deep while senior’s sleep

— tearing flesh from bone

 

(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)

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Kurt Philip Behm

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▾ This Poem's Voice

Your Poem's Voice

PersonalThemeAbstract

Social issue (elder abuse) with abstract predatory language; bridges personal/concrete concern with philosophical scope

SparseMeasureDense

Dense packing of ideas: abuse prevalence, vulnerability, predation, violence. Multiple concepts compressed into short lines

DarkSentimentBright

Strongly negative; depicts violence, victimization, suffering of vulnerable elderly population

StillEnergyExplosive

Explosive violent imagery; predatory verbs (preying, sinking fangs, tearing); aggressive rhythm and punctuation

MicroLengthEpic

Approximately 6-7 lines; micro to very short form

PlainFigurativeOrnamented

Extended predator metaphor (fangs, tearing flesh); personification of abuse as hunting entity; high ornamentation

LyricVoiceDramatic

Primarily lyric internal voice with elements of observational narrative; not fully dramatic persona

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