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The Self-Made Man

by Rachel Bennett

though he stands on legs he carved himself,
whittled by nose and grindstone and sweat,
though he accounts for invoices with hands
patterned and grooved by Death Valley ruts,

though he'll stare you down with a glare
that stops just inches in front of you,
and though he'll inform you of shoes
first worn by seven other snot-nosed siblings,

the self-made man is neither.

02/03/2010

Author's Note: I had to wrestle this one down.

Posted on 02/03/2010
Copyright © 2024 Rachel Bennett

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by V. Blake on 02/03/10 at 09:12 PM

I just want to point out to those who come after me that I'm responsible for this poet being here. Just sayin'.

Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 02/03/10 at 09:17 PM

Glad you did. It's badass.

Posted by Richard Colinson on 02/03/10 at 09:35 PM

That's awesome. Seems like there's a lot in there and you wrestled it down well.

Posted by Nicole D Gregory on 02/04/10 at 12:02 AM

I train with MMA fighters and HONEY... they got nuth'n on you! Whoa! This was complete submission through grappeling and I bow to your WIN!!! ...and Vince... yah, dude... I think she could take you ;) RAW-Chester! ~N

Posted by George Hoerner on 02/04/10 at 01:20 AM

Great! And the self-made woman?

Posted by Amie Golda on 02/04/10 at 01:23 AM

You definitely emerge victorious Rachel. What a point to drive at and you do it so boldly yet gracefully! I applaude how you were indeed able to subdue the words.

Could you come up with a similar piece for Vince's comment though? ;)

Posted by Therese Elaine on 02/04/10 at 02:04 AM

I hope Vince isn't getting a ten percent cut of you!!! Another amazing piece from your Rachel -I am consistently impressed with your work and the way which you tackle such a wide variety of subject matter, from the whimsical to the serious!

Posted by Cassandra Leigh on 02/08/10 at 01:33 AM

was this by any chance inspired by Bobbie Carlyle's sculpture? http://selfmademan.bobbiecarlylesculpture.com/index.php i've seen it, it's amazing. and this piece is also amazing. i can tell it's very meticulously put together. awesome :)

Posted by Steve Michaels on 08/07/13 at 04:32 AM

Nice write and congrats on POTD

Posted by Colleen Sperry on 08/07/13 at 09:14 AM

congrats on POTD... loved the poem!

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 08/07/13 at 02:40 PM

Congrats on POTD! This slaps hard. Thanks for this.

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