Angle Boy

Contemporary / Modern Poetry Human Written by skgracer · Apr 30, 2026

When he was born, the clouds that soared
They fell to watch him sing.
But when they found him
All he did was whimper, scratch, and screech
So they returned to the their sky
A place of all our dreams
There they spent their mighty tears
To flood the world with peasant’s sorrow.

He woke up when the broken sounds no longer lingered
And the clouds had disappeared; gone into the wind.
He looked in the mirror
He started in fear
A feather sprouted out.

It was like the wing of a raven
Sewn to his skin.
A monster’s whisper on his back.
He yanked
He pulled
He cried sweet words.
Bounced it to and fro.

He ran from boys who called him wicked
Hiding like a bat
A rabbit chased back into its hat.
But wistful thinking went so far
He could never hide all of that
They’d read the secrets
He’d buried alive
And somehow they were breathing.

His hair it glowed
A color worthy of a king
Or so said all those fable
Like stones that had stolen bits of porch light.
It could turn heads from many tables.

He cut it with scissors
It fell to the floor
Like leaves in autumn and winter.

But he couldn’t sprint, cower, falter.
It grew back
Like weeds that drown the flowers.

Then his wings blossomed to their full length
And he cut holes in his shirt.
They sprouted like little trees
And he heard all the screams
They were ubiquitous
They bombed his little aplomb
Freak
I’m a freak.

The Angel Boy he called the clouds and they sang with glee
The sun came out
Its pout swiftly ended.

That was the day he learned to fly.
When he met the sky halfway
It welcomed him with open arms.

There, my son.
There you are.

How did this poem make you feel?

Community Score

—

out of 10

0 votes

Optional AI-generated literary feedback.

Poem Analysis

This analysis is provided as optional literary feedback. Community voting remains the primary ranking method.

Analysis Available

This poem explores themes of transformation, acceptance, and self-discovery through the metaphor of a boy growing wings. Its artistic value lies in the vivid imagery and emotional journey from fear to self-acceptance, though it occasionally falters in consistency and clarity.

Strengths

The poem uses strong imagery, such as 'A feather sprouted out' and 'wings blossomed to their full length,' to convey transformation.
The emotional journey from fear to acceptance is compelling, particularly in the lines 'That was the day he learned to fly.'
The metaphor of wings and flight effectively symbolizes freedom and self-discovery.

Areas for Improvement

Some imagery, like 'A monster’s whisper on his back,' is confusing and lacks clarity.
The poem's structure is somewhat inconsistent, with abrupt shifts that disrupt the flow, such as the transition from 'He cut it with scissors' to 'But he couldn’t sprint, cower, falter.'

Imagery

The poem employs vivid imagery to depict transformation and emotional turmoil. The 'feather sprouted out' and 'wings blossomed' are powerful visual metaphors for change. The use of nature imagery, such as 'leaves in autumn and winter' and 'weeds that drown the flowers,' enhances the sense of growth and decay. However, some images, like 'A monster’s whisper on his back,' are less effective due to their ambiguity.

Structure

The poem lacks a consistent structure, with varying line lengths and no fixed rhyme scheme. This free-form approach mirrors the chaotic journey of self-discovery but at times leads to disjointed transitions, as seen between the stanzas describing the boy's hair and his wings. The poem's narrative arc, however, is clear, moving from birth to acceptance.

Language & Craft

The diction is rich with metaphor and simile, using phrases like 'like the wing of a raven' and 'like leaves in autumn and winter' to create vivid comparisons. The tone shifts from somber to hopeful, reflecting the protagonist's journey. Instances of alliteration, such as 'whimper, scratch, and screech,' add a musical quality to the language.

Emotional Impact

The poem effectively captures the emotional struggle of self-acceptance, moving the reader from sympathy to triumph. The protagonist's journey from fear ('He started in fear') to empowerment ('That was the day he learned to fly') is emotionally resonant, despite occasional lapses in clarity.