I've been working on a poetry anthology for class, on my chosen theme, control. I'm one below the maximum and I wanted one more that rhymed or conveyed some care as to what the words sounded like (assonance would have been brilliant.) But since I'm limited to searching Canadian poets, I'm pretty stuck, since all they seem to do is free verse. don't get me wrong, my favourite poems are free verse, but some people just take advantage. So I composed out of frustration:
I'm afraid that poetry is
As much about crackle and fizz
As the message you want to send
And the punchline at the end.
As much about form and grace
As it is merely words in place.
Now, I'm a fan of free verse
But I think it's getting worse
When poems are merely rants
Sitting idle like ficus plants.
Not to break the dull and monotone
But I can't in this be all alone
For crying out listen, the word is "poetic"
It connotes a certain type of aesthetic.
Words can be oh so bland and fragile
A reader's tongue ought to have to be agile
To navigate profoundly writ words
Not spewing out any random old turds.
The next column of text I see I won't give a fuck
If it's brilliant I guess it's just shit outta luck.
Gimme style! Gimme fun! Show you care! Show a lot!
Show me you gave your words a modicum of thought.
If you need to take listeners on long verbal treks
Reward 'em by making the meaning complex
Or don't, if you can't, but maybe once take the time
To see if you can't make some poetry rhyme.
This drywall of verse just blends with the wall
And I can't decipher why I should care, not at all.
Keep on rockin'
-Scotto
poem
