"The Inspirational Stuff" This poem's format is intentional. It should "flow" with different font sizes and margins.

The Inspirational Stuff
"A poem should not mean / But be."

Archibald MacLeish is right, a poem should- / n't be mean. Meaning, the meaning should be / right there, on the surface, leach deep into / the recesses of the lines (between them / or among them or, better, amongst). Peo- / ple or a person, preferably dead-- / to escape the realities of fail- / ures, sins, shortcomings, and acne--skillful- / ly smeared with words that we make out but nev- / er use, unless in the heat of Scrabble / or crossword or Sudoku-- help us know / more about us, ourselves, them, or cats and / how special they are and unique, except / when compared to most other domestic- / cated beast, eating what nature provides / and not what is enhanced in the lab while / trying to cure the anomalies of / life and living. Yes, of course, poems must / be

--Sukany 21 June 2011

The Inspirational Stuff
"A poem should not mean / But be."

Archibald MacLeish is right, a poem should- / n't be mean. Meaning, the meaning should be / right there, on the surface, leach deep into / the recesses of the lines (between them / or among them or, better, amongst). Peo- / ple or a person, preferably dead-- / to escape the realities of fail- / ures, sins, shortcomings, and acne--skillful- / ly smeared with words that we make out but nev- / er use, unless in the heat of Scrabble / or crossword or Sudoku-- help us know / more about us, ourselves, them, or cats and / how special they are and unique, except / when compared to most other domestic- / cated beast, eating what nature provides / and not what is enhanced in the lab while / trying to cure the anomalies of / life and living. Yes, of course, poems must / be


I understand what you are doing but it is REALLY hard to read! I do like the word association/word play, especially at the beginning and end. It seems to go off on a tangent about the cats. Maybe that's another poem.
Velvet

Velvet, True. I am playing on the intent and "mean"-ing of the quote. I am trying to be contrary and difficult. Is irony not clear? I don't consider this a "contest poem" in any universe.

I guess we're all that's writing this month. I'll offer more on your poem tomorrow, if that's alright.

Thanks for your input. Keep it coming.

Here's the version BEFORE the "slash" embedding.




Inspirational Stuff
"A poem should not mean / But be."

Archibald MacLeish is right, a poem should-
n't be mean. Meaning,
the meaning should be
right there, on the surface, leach deep into
the recesses of the lines (between them
or among them or, better, amongst). Peo-
ple or a person, preferably dead--
to escape the realities of fail-
ures, sins, shortcomings, and acne--skillful-
ly smeared with words that we make out but nev-
er use, unless in the heat of Scrabble
or crossword or Sudoku--help us know
more about us, ourselves, them, or cats and
how special they are and unique, except
when compared to most other domestic-
cated beast, eating what nature provides
and not what is enhanced in the lab while
trying to cure the anomalies of
life and living. Yes,
of course, poems must
be

Well, that does make it easier to read!
The last time I talked to Nancy her computer was in the shop. So that may be why we haven't heard from her.
You are welcome to add comments on my poems anytime! (I will be out of town July 7-16 [San Diego - woohoo] but should have access to a computer at least part of the time.)
Most readers are probably too young and the "Ralph and Alice" line won't evoke an image. Those are the names of the husband and wife in the old "Honeymooners" TV show with Jackie Gleason. (See how old I am!)
Velvet