It's lonely out here in comment-land at the bottom of the page on this sub; as it should be, I suppose, given that it features poetry not prose. It's nice to hear from someone, however infrequently that may be. After all, my following may be small, but it sure is tiny!
While I'm a huge fan of quotes, they're almost exclusively from non-poets. I was only dimly aware of the one you shared, and it's a good one. I went through a list of his quotes and another I really liked was "A poem is a small machine made out of words."
As far as the state of current "poetry" goes, don't me started. Cowardly, insular and hopelessly derivative, to say nothing of navel-gazing and terminally politically-correct, it's mostly the result of people who have nothing to say whose only real talent would appear to be saying nothing badly ... mostly prose with a twitchy enter finger, masquerading as poetry ... mostly an academic grift trafficking in the delusion that talent and inspiration can be bought and taught. But that's just me and to each their own. After all, de gustibus non disputandum est.
I agree with you. Seems like most poets don't want to look outside their yoga huts and sheep corrals. For my own sake, I have been collecting poems (or prose that could read as poems) from Substacks and other sources that take current events as their subject. Perhaps they will be gathered into an anthology one day. There's good stuff and there's doggerel as well (therapy). I've written my own therapy poems about what's going on, and have one (hopefully going beyond therapy) I think I could share here on Substack, when I get a moment. I love your piece. You get a lot in there. I'm looking forward to more, and will try to catch up with you've already posted.
I know exactly what you mean RPP. Most poets are ideologically captured and they don't even know it. They tip-toe around all the issues staring all of us in the face. And it's up to US poets, not them, to sing about what's really going on in our world. I'm glad I found your stack and subbed to it. Let's support each other in this spiritual war against humanity and use the weapons of Poetry to do it.
You’re super welcome. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work. Also love your writing style, the line breaks, the occasional rhyme where a rhyme will work. Kinda free form but it has its own rhythm and rhyme. 👍👍👍
I believe they're perennially apt/relevant because they're largely based on aspects/truths of human nature, especially its darker sides. As long as we retain our human nature (i.e., resist transhumanism) they're likely to be both apt and of interest.
This poem was revised on JAN 20, 2025.
“It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there.”
W.C. Williams
You have shown what is lacking in much recent poetry. Thank you for this (part 1 of a) poem!
Thanks for that, Alison.
It's lonely out here in comment-land at the bottom of the page on this sub; as it should be, I suppose, given that it features poetry not prose. It's nice to hear from someone, however infrequently that may be. After all, my following may be small, but it sure is tiny!
While I'm a huge fan of quotes, they're almost exclusively from non-poets. I was only dimly aware of the one you shared, and it's a good one. I went through a list of his quotes and another I really liked was "A poem is a small machine made out of words."
As far as the state of current "poetry" goes, don't me started. Cowardly, insular and hopelessly derivative, to say nothing of navel-gazing and terminally politically-correct, it's mostly the result of people who have nothing to say whose only real talent would appear to be saying nothing badly ... mostly prose with a twitchy enter finger, masquerading as poetry ... mostly an academic grift trafficking in the delusion that talent and inspiration can be bought and taught. But that's just me and to each their own. After all, de gustibus non disputandum est.
I agree with you. Seems like most poets don't want to look outside their yoga huts and sheep corrals. For my own sake, I have been collecting poems (or prose that could read as poems) from Substacks and other sources that take current events as their subject. Perhaps they will be gathered into an anthology one day. There's good stuff and there's doggerel as well (therapy). I've written my own therapy poems about what's going on, and have one (hopefully going beyond therapy) I think I could share here on Substack, when I get a moment. I love your piece. You get a lot in there. I'm looking forward to more, and will try to catch up with you've already posted.
"Seems like most poets don't want to look outside their yoga huts and sheep corrals." That gets a "like" all its own.
I'm sure you'll know when the time is right to share.
"You get a lot in there." Darn tootin' — there's a lot to say!
We have some good memes for our times, and Bob Moran's visceral cartoons.
Lots of good writing on Substack.
I don't do Twitter but much to the point posts on there.
Any paintbrush artists?
I read something somewhere that NZ government is going to pay salaries of approved "artists". (I'm in NZ)
We sure do! It is however, if I may be so pedantic, Bob Moran, not Morgan.
I know Jordan Henderson has done some fine Covid Era paintings. He is one of this poem's "likes"... "Jordan's Substack".
I'm sure an artist who specializes in equine painting might be commissioned to produce an official portrait of your ex-PM, Jacinda.
Predictive text changed Bob's name.
Good horse joke.
We live in a photo age and messing around with the authenticity of photos is an artform.
Jabcinda was often, along with Michael Obama, given a strange bulge.
Funny how that works and starts to become them.
I know exactly what you mean RPP. Most poets are ideologically captured and they don't even know it. They tip-toe around all the issues staring all of us in the face. And it's up to US poets, not them, to sing about what's really going on in our world. I'm glad I found your stack and subbed to it. Let's support each other in this spiritual war against humanity and use the weapons of Poetry to do it.
BTW, this was a great poem! I loved it.
Truth!
Also, thanks and glad you liked it.
You’re super welcome. I’m looking forward to reading more of your work. Also love your writing style, the line breaks, the occasional rhyme where a rhyme will work. Kinda free form but it has its own rhythm and rhyme. 👍👍👍
I suppose a silver lining to the cloud that is so much unimpressive "poetry", is that developing my own style was that much easier.
The good old days when the enemy dressed like the enemy and carried rifles.
Now they wear urban camouflage and pretend that they are you.
The genius of these brilliant poems - even though they were written years ago - they're still apt in response to recent events.
I believe they're perennially apt/relevant because they're largely based on aspects/truths of human nature, especially its darker sides. As long as we retain our human nature (i.e., resist transhumanism) they're likely to be both apt and of interest.
We must retain our human nature however It appears that not everyone is of the same nature.