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Free Verse

California Gaslight


Trapped inside

his mirror

Prevarication 

flows

A narcissist

parading

The emperors 

— new clothes

 

(Flexing In Brazil: November, 2025)

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Kurt Philip Behm

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This Poem's Voice

Your Poem's Voice

PersonalThemeAbstract

Blends personal observation of narcissism with abstract philosophical critique of self-deception.

SparseMeasureDense

Dense ideation: narcissism, prevarication, vanity, delusion compressed into five fragmented lines.

DarkSentimentBright

Sharply critical and contemptuous tone toward subject; strongly negative valence.

StillEnergyExplosive

Staccato phrasing, aggressive word choice, parenthetical outburst creates kinetic intensity.

MicroLengthEpic

Micro poem: five lines total, including parenthetical date/context.

PlainFigurativeOrnamented

Mirror metaphor, Emperor's New Clothes allusion, personified prevarication create ornate language.

LyricVoiceDramatic

Primarily lyric critique with implied dramatic observation of a specific persona/figure.

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