The next one's a winner

By purr_verse

In an alley last night
my poetry vendor promised
that this time my money would be
well spent;
All these poems are fresh,
she told me.
Inspiration comes cheap on Saturdays.
You're in luck.


My inspiration hasn't been much
of a dancer lately,
so I took the chance.
After all, it was Saturday,
and my words could just as easily
be in her pocket
as anywhere else.


It came in a brown paper bag
(Of course.)
and with a little scrawled note
informing me that I would not be
entitled to a refund
if the poem proved weakly existential,
contorted with self-reference
or fundamentally senseless


and I knew before reading it
I'd bought another cliche.

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.
Copyright 2005 Natalie Lyndon
Published on Friday, January 7, 2005.     Filed under: "Poetry"
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Comments on "The next one's a winner"

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  • carlosjackal On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, carlosjackal (3011)By person wrote:

    Pure brilliance..Ingenius take on writers block.

  • Dilated View On Wednesday, December 30, 2009, Dilated View (583)By person wrote:

    I hearted this. The thoughts presented in a fresh way. Seems like everything is cliche these days, nice to find something that wasn't. Nicely written :)

  • mozarts cat On Friday, April 7, 2006, mozarts cat (184)By person wrote:

    clever write .. this is uniquely creative and so beautifully crafted *loves*

  • jaunty pill On Saturday, June 4, 2005, jaunty pill (47)By person wrote:

    I also like the ( of course ). Almost like a conscious-throw outloud. A little moment of clarity we didn't need to see , But why not. Wonderful word choices as well here. Again , Nice work.

  • jaunty pill On Saturday, June 4, 2005, jaunty pill (47)By person wrote:

    Quirky. And I know what a poem turns into in the pockets of someone else..Would you like to know? Whitewash. That's right. Unique and absolutely well-done. This is a keeper indeed.

  • NikesRain On Tuesday, April 12, 2005, NikesRain (1298)By person wrote:

    'Inspiration comes cheap on Saturdays" i loved that line....you've purrfectly captured how it feels some days to write..i just can't stop grinning to myself as i reread this at least 4 times, great work as always

  • A former member wrote: awesome poem, you compare poetry to selling drugs LOL

  • A former member wrote: amazing, as always . . . i'm speechless

  • SluG On Saturday, February 5, 2005, SluG (35)By person wrote:

    EVERYTIME I read something of yours...I just become speechless...awesome.

  • Lotophagi On Saturday, January 29, 2005, Lotophagi (333)By person wrote:

    brilliant. that's all. The concept is just superb, and the presentation of it magnificent. Thank you.

  • Nuada On Sunday, January 23, 2005, Nuada (9)By person wrote:

    Where can i meet your vendor? Does he/she/it take checks?

  • Sepulcrawl On Wednesday, January 19, 2005, Sepulcrawl (78)By person wrote:

    There isn't much I can find wrong with this poem---perhaps expanding on what you've already said a tiny bit? I really love your shit.

  • flying_fox On Monday, January 17, 2005, flying_fox (573)By person wrote:

    Extraordinarily clever. *bows in amazement*

  • birdwell On Sunday, January 16, 2005, birdwell (140)By person wrote:

    once again amazed by your incomparable ingenuity ~db~

  • A former member wrote: "Inspiration comes cheap on Saturdays." Quotable line. "and I knew before reading it I'd bought another cliche." Dali for the unconscious reader. I love the existential feel, as if 'It came in a brown paper bag' (Of course.) And of course. This one's

  • A former member wrote: ... a winner; profound & deliciously crafted[painted]. Brilliantly sublime; thoughtfully structured and lyrically ironic w/ a mature gloss producing effectiveness.

  • Spiritus_Frumenti On Thursday, January 13, 2005, Spiritus_Frumenti (341)By person wrote:

    the concept is great...i love this ...-l-

  • BoldSolitude On Monday, January 10, 2005, BoldSolitude (214)By person wrote:

    The last two lines made me chuckle. I thoroughly liked the story.

  • A former member wrote: very unique awesome write

  • stormtalk On Sunday, January 9, 2005, stormtalk (729)By person wrote:

    That's pretty awesome. Another favorite... my list grows fat, today. Perfect.

  • A former member wrote: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this poem. Thank you.

  • Jonas On Saturday, January 8, 2005, Jonas (720)By person wrote:

    wonderful little sardonic glance at the empty head that dries the pen and leaves you believing that nothing will come of these words.

  • Anth On Saturday, January 8, 2005, Anth (1133)By person wrote:

    great work purr, its no colours without names, but when you go thru times not inspired to write masterpieces like that, you find a way to present brilliant works like this,a joy to read and displays another angle of your skills

  • lordshadow On Friday, January 7, 2005, lordshadow (153)By person wrote:

    Money well-spent. One of the better pieces I've read in a while. Wonderful.

  • VenomPlease On Friday, January 7, 2005, VenomPlease (134)By person wrote:

    This is awesome. Quite unique I must say. Well done.

  • blue On Friday, January 7, 2005, blue (1454)By person wrote:

    Well, I'd say 'the slump' is over! ...lol!! That was really great Natalie!! Very imaginative! :):):) ~b


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