Misanthropy

[Todd]

Hi Brendan,

Let me give you some comments below:

Misanthropy Edit 1[b]--I think the title gives to much away. If the word is supposed to have an epiphany quality to it, you should probably rethink the title.
[/b]
There was a time I was once, he, a child.--"There was a time seems like filler as we were all once children. I see what you're doing with the "he" and the "I" trying to state there was a marked difference between who you were and who you are now. I think what your really trying to deal with is the loss of childlike innocence. In either event, I think the construction makes the poem clunky. It would be much better with "Once I was a child". I think as a global statement, I would need to see a lot of elements like this cleaned up before I could deal with the content well.
Stumped and short limbs could not keep pace to eyes--Passive voice isn't the best choice here. The line would likely improve by leading with a "with", also possible replace the "to" with another "with"
wide with life , thoughtlessly thoughtful and wild;--possibly a "too" before wide
running and clutching a world since demised.--demised feels odd here. It feels like you want despised. Running and clutching feels like it needs to be replaced by one better word if you can find it.

Memories though, like soft sucker candies--cut the though
stick to the roof of my mind and disjoint--cut and disjoint
leaving but rough-shod raw sores rubbed itchy.--too many modifiers here. Possibly: "leaving raw sores rubbed itchy"
He was the one who appreciated the true point.--This he/I thing again would probably be better served by "it was then I appreciated" The true point feels too vague to me. It robs the image you're building of power. So far this candy thing is the best thing in the poem and might be what I would rewrite around. Just thinking out loud.

When I was once he, a child I'd a Mother who loved
me very much and so doted a great sum of time--This should be condensed savagely. This feels too prosey at the moment. Also, focus on the parts that are slightly different from everyone's common experience. Unless the idea is, "Like you, I had a mother..." or some such
and her patience to the goal of teaching me above--imagery needed not statements. Show visually what she did and let it stand for the entire characteristic
all that I must always learn from the nursed subtle rhymes.--Nursery "rhymes" or Nursed rhymes at the breast...just wondering here

And so began a habit I have since, myself, lost.--condense please, too wordy
Whenever words appeared strange and unknown
it was required of him: with the dictionary, floss
knowledge's cavities-- that new-born tongue might be honed.--This all needs to be condensed, in my opinion

Then he, a child, would at once further press
daily to make use of this newly learned
word, just to taste for his buds to caress.
Loved them all, words, and the way that he heard.--again, if you play upon memories as candy. You can build words as tastes. He learned "xxx" which tasted of (I don't know) chocolate, or "xxx" which was sunlight. Then build the poem into what misanthropy tasted like. Fully just thoughts. I'm just trying to play off the word palate idea you hint at

That was until a single, awful word--In that tone, it would be a "bitter" word
meaning to hate all persons in the world.
Read it in Dickens he did, but he slurred
and stuttered as winters tale unfurled.--again I've probably given enough to show you another possible direction

He didn't get it, how could someone hate
him if never had they once talked to him.
Child, he was, scrubbing the filth off his plate
like the fool thinks he is singing a hymn

I get the word; I am misanthropy.
I the Dickensian fall that lacked an ascent.
I the forewarned, the rotten, sugar me.
I who ate him; he a child; he who once was innocent.

I'm going to leave it at that Brendan. It's the best I've got at the moment. I hope it helps, if it doesn't than please disregard.

Best,

Todd