You, my dear

The rivers of sorrow a man wades through

Often were where he has fished a few

And found one woe to dwell on deep

To shatter to pieces, and lose his sleep

The flowers of a man he has smelt true

Often were with drops of delusional dew

And thus brought home unwarranted tears

To shatter his dreams, to be a feast to his fears

The times of a man he has found persistent 

Often a mirage, an undoing of his mend

And thus he stays lost in thoughts of the past

To sleeplessness, wishing another breath be his last

The thoughts of a man he has found to control

Often what broke him and his very soul

And thus his bitterness now is his very existence

To wilt at love and this has become his persistence

So if you wish, and if you dearly wish to mend

Find like me, find a road that goes to a bend

Sit a while and watch the drizzle, await a rainbow

Heal your soul to find your peace hiding below

Breathe

Then breathe again and think of ease

Be you, let no other cast you in their mold

Rise as you, rain as you, find your soul

Explanation by Bard

The poem "You, my dear" is a reflection on the human condition and the challenges we face in finding peace and happiness. The speaker begins by noting that the rivers of sorrow a man wades through are often the same rivers where he has fished a few and found one woe to dwell on deep. This suggests that our suffering is often rooted in our own desires and expectations.

The speaker then goes on to say that the flowers of a man he has smelt true are often with drops of delusional dew, and thus brought home unwarranted tears. This suggests that our relationships and experiences can also be a source of pain, especially if we are not realistic about our expectations.

The speaker then talks about how the times of a man he has found persistent are often a mirage, an undoing of his mend. This suggests that our sense of time and progress can be illusory, and that we can easily get lost in the past or the future.

Finally, the speaker talks about how the thoughts of a man he has found to control are often what broke him and his very soul. This suggests that our own thoughts and emotions can be our greatest enemies, especially if we are unable to manage them effectively.

Despite this bleak assessment of the human condition, the poem ends on a hopeful note. The speaker encourages the reader to find a road that goes to a bend, sit a while and watch the drizzle, await a rainbow, and heal their soul to find their peace hiding below. This suggests that it is possible to find peace and happiness, even in the midst of suffering, if we are willing to be patient and open to change.

Criticism

The poem "You, my dear" is well-written and thought-provoking. The speaker uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey their message. The poem is also well-structured, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

One criticism of the poem is that it can be somewhat pessimistic. The speaker focuses on the challenges and suffering that we face in life, with little mention of the positive aspects. However, it is important to note that the poem is ultimately hopeful. The speaker ends by encouraging the reader to find peace and happiness, even in the midst of suffering.

Another criticism of the poem is that it can be somewhat vague in places. The speaker does not always explicitly state what they mean, which can make the poem difficult to interpret. However, this ambiguity can also be seen as a strength of the poem, as it allows the reader to bring their own experiences and interpretations to the text.

Overall, the poem "You, my dear" is a well-written and thought-provoking poem that explores the human condition in a unique and interesting way. It is a poem that can be enjoyed and appreciated on many levels.