An Anti-Wisconsin Warning

By Litteratus

(This is in no way a dishonor to the good people of Wisconsin,
the title is an attention-grabber.)

Some aspiring spirits have taken the "pen" with haste
And put sentiment to text with a great velocity,
Only to smear upon monitor brain-fuzz waste
Tasting of top-coating curdle stinking with ferocity.
Swiftly skimming the gooey aggregate in unanimity
An enthusiastic throng makes the cheese of Mediocrity.

Why do such water-striders flail over a fetid film
So glossy yet seen and pissed-in by all?
Why do they not snatch coal from a crackling kiln
Only to abrase bark for bitter-oozing gall?
Claustrophobic they flee the howling hollows
To skip, slip, and scuttle in the shallows.

Perhaps they paid heed to some pop pundit,
A heart-smart but mind-tart depraved maven
Preaching the principle of under-reaching ("Just Spew It!"),
Saying it shall flush ill feelings to safe haven.
The ground where distressed dogs release their burden
Is often shared by the playful cries of children.

Despite musings as to the flawed cause,
I will give pause to grant all the following advice:
In order to earn envy-yearning and durable applause
The deep and engrossing must be enticed; the petty excised.
That which can be communicated upon a face
At an altar with Art shares no noble place.

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.
Published on Friday, June 16, 2000.     Filed under: "Poetry"
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Comments on "An Anti-Wisconsin Warning"

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  • ONEANDLONELY On Thursday, March 31, 2005, ONEANDLONELY (117)By person wrote:

    If you are good at cliche's, which is an art form in itself then let it flow. You are indeed an artist.

  • A former member wrote: An outstanding write. Your style is distinguished and utterly beguiling.

  • A former member wrote: I agree with morgue. You rhyme with grace and write with out flaw and such excellence.

  • Jonas On Wednesday, August 20, 2003, Jonas (720)By person wrote:

    i've always been torn between the validity of ventingpurgingspewingspitting to feel some sort of relief in opposition to artistic musings to feel some sort of creative relief... certainly the former bugs me

  • Litteratus On Thursday, August 21, 2003, Litteratus (42)By person wrote:

    Actually, the same goes for me. At the time I wrote this, I was really sick of the half-assed, cliche purge poems that were filling the 'new works' section at the time (a few years back). Since then, the writing quality has improved.

  • Litteratus On Thursday, August 21, 2003, Litteratus (42)By person wrote:

    but truly, poetic purging IS artistic, in my eyes, if a real effort at creativity is taken. I later read that one of the great Greek philosophers had actually hypothesized that purging was the nature of poetry, and it may be true (even for my works)

  • Jonas On Wednesday, August 20, 2003, Jonas (720)By person wrote:

    but i certainly practice the former... this site also, i believe encourages it... but do you call it art? i dunno... just be, i suppose, but always strive to reach beyond that definition...

  • Six-Out On Wednesday, August 20, 2003, Six-Out (1435)By person wrote:

    I like cheese...and this write. Good job skull person.

  • A former member wrote: nice work. i love its originality and style.

  • Litteratus On Wednesday, January 22, 2003, Litteratus (42)By person wrote:

    Readers, please note that the above poem was a strong reaction to a deluge of uber-cliche depressing works that were being posted on the old DP site. I leave it for humor and warning.

  • A former member wrote: the title was indeed attention grabbing. and the poem was very good. the rhyme scheme worked well, and there were many excellent lines. it was very strong without being too blunt/direct.

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