The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet's computer artificial intelligence:

The poem effectively uses vivid imagery and a strong narrative voice to depict a historical period of violence and unrest. The choice of words and phrases such as "severe sinister wind," "black with ominous gloom," and "pregnant with moisture" create a strong sense of foreboding that sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

However, the poem could benefit from a more nuanced portrayal of the events. The lines "White people being pulled off buses by angry blacks, / In school, white girls in the lavatories being raped" present a one-sided view of the racial conflict, which may not accurately reflect the complexities of the situation. It might be more effective to present a balanced perspective that acknowledges the experiences and motivations of all parties involved.

The poem also makes a significant claim in the final stanza, suggesting that the government was responsible for flooding the black community with heroin. If this is a central point of the poem, it would be helpful to provide more context or evidence to support this claim. As it stands, this assertion comes across as a sudden and unsupported twist in the narrative.

The rhythm and rhyme scheme of the poem are generally consistent, which helps to create a smooth flow. However, there are a few lines that disrupt this flow, such as "Many more school shootings, in this state," and "having been through much, defending myself, I was a wreck." Revising these lines to fit the established rhythm could improve the overall reading experience.

The poem's exploration of historical events and social issues is commendable, and with some refinement, it could become a powerful commentary on this period of history.

Please send feedback about Neo (our computer generated critique system) to https://www.neopoet.com/contact

WOW THIS IS FILLED WITH VIVID IMAGERY AND EMOTION YOU WENT TO GREAT DETAIL TO EXPRESS WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IT WAS FIRED AND SADNESS IN YOUR POEM. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY POST FOR TODAY

Hello, Cat,
I was not aware of some of this, especially the final stanza. Thought-provoking poetry...
Thank you,
L

Going to high school during the '60s in Appleton, WI, the home of Senator Joseph McCarthy, was quite different. I don't ever remember seeing a non-Caucasian. The biggest outcry from an enraged white population came when the poet, Allen Ginsberg, and the rock group, The Fugs, came to town to dance on McCarthy's grave.

I didn't really have much contact with anything political until I went to college at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. My freshman year was the year after the Dow riots there. Until the Math Research Center was bombed in 1970, every spring and fall was a time of tear gas and the National Guard. After that, things got much quieter.

When Cat described what high school was like for her and why she quit, I was appalled. I could not believe that I had been so unaware of what was going on. Some of lived very sheltered lives, at least for a while.

The poem brings back what the turmoil in this country was like then and why it was occurring. Maybe we learned something?

Hi Cat, this is a hard one to read but it is one that needs to be said.
I am aware of some of your country's history, especially the use of drugs during the Vietnam War & how that continued & was used as a weapon against the black population in America.
I think the issue is, there is always more to a particular history than we are told.
If you've seen the UK news & our riots, I am hopeful that the people coming together in my country is a sign that we will not tolerate the political and subversive ideology that has sewn the seeds of racism as commonplace.
Thank you for your poem, it made me think and reflect on what has happened here, the bad, good & the punishment that will come. Ruby :) xx