Perhaps we are the pets that God forgot.
Hold onto that thought for a moment.
But there is no God! I hear some of you cry.
This may well be true. So I create one,
temporarily, as a peg to hang a concept on.
To keep these pets, God needs a cage,
or tank, or planet. Boundaries.
Then I suppose we amuse him,
for a while at least, until he tires,
of feeding us, cleaning up our shit.
What now? Our water gets dirty,
hasn’t been changed, not since Noah.
We don’t miss God, just notice,
somehow everything’s fucked up.
We are dying in our filth.
Some people shouldn’t keep pets.
You can let go of that thought now.
Perhaps.
Oli 09/06/08
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Excellent!
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | This is a great take on the problem of pain - witty, hard-hitting, biting and very funny at the same time.
'A god is for life, not just for christmas' springs to mind.
' . . . a peg to hang a concept on.' reminds me of John Lennon's 'God is a concept by which we measure our pain.'
'Some people shouldn't keep pets' - great line, but I don't understand why we can perhaps now let go of that thought. Because God shouldn't keep pets?
Maybe I'm just being thick!
Anyway, much enjoyed.
Cheers!
John
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Written by stevetroster (1601 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | Hello Oli, great title - sea monkeys, have you indulged?
Great poem, too. I 'did' get it, although I didn’t see a link to pain (misery, perhaps) and I would have though that the message here is “the human race is not just for Christmas”.
‘Our water gets dirty, hasn’t been changed, not since Noah’ was a wonderfully inspired line (or two).
Jeremy bless you, my child.
All the best,
Steve.
| Hi guys, thanks!
Written by Talisker (1336 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | I'm glad you both appreciated this - though Steve seems to have got more of the intended message. Not to say that your reading is wrong of course, John!
I remember as a kid somewhat neglecting goldfish - that was the root of it. I guess we are all powerfull "gods" to our pets (and kids???).
Anyhow, I also remember these "sea monkey" things. They are a type of shrimp - you buy the eggs, re-hydrate them and they magically turn into little beasties. So I thought, if there is a God, are we the goldfish or sea monkeys he got bored with i.e. the pets are not just for Christmas thing you mention Steve.
A kind of theological/existential/creationist theorem to play around with...
Thanks v.much again!
Oli  | Oh, and...
Written by Talisker (1336 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | John
The reason I say:
"You can let go of that thought now, perhaps"
referring to the original theorem in line one - is that I feel the reader may find it difficult (or impossible?) to let go of the concept. I'm teasing really, saying how clever I am and how plausible the whole nonsense is. I thought it was mildly amusing to make this pseudo-arrogant suggestion.
Oli  |
Written by Veronica_Milvus (768 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | I remember a programme where various sea-creatures lived in "the Pooliverse" and worshipped some human who peered in at them.
Really liked this Oli, it explains why the planet is in such a state, God got bored with us and went off to play with some Daleks or something, |
Written by Phil (7007 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | Cleverly constructed in thought and concept - flows, as all your pieces do.
Thought the ending was spot on.
Enjoyed very much.
Phil |
Written by stevetroster (1601 comments posted) 18th July 2008 | | The Pooliverse. That would be from the Perishers cartoon strip, where the crabs worshipped the eyes in the sky, otherwise known as the Perishers' dog. |
Written by pulltheletter (12 comments posted) 19th July 2008 | | I enjoy the cynisism. Nicely done! | cynical indeed ,
Written by patterjack (1435 comments posted) 19th July 2008 | but very clever with it !
Well done Oli
patterjack |
Written by NathanRoberts (277 comments posted) 19th July 2008 | Really liked this one. Not sure that it's 'pseudo -arrogant', that sounds a bit apologetic. We're all equally entitled to conceptualising God or the absence of God, aren't we? Or, are you covering yourself, just in case He reads GW?!
I think I had some Sea Monkeys once, I remember being enthralled by those wonderfully imaginative adverts in the back of Marvel comics, where they looked like a miniature empire, all for $1.99! The tiny transparent shrimp things that turned were as big a let down as those X-ray specs. | Hello Oli!
Written by Katanga (1537 comments posted) 19th July 2008 | For the record, I didn't 'get it wrong' - I had the same interpretation as Steve.
I was jokingly turning it round, and playing with the fact that 'God' is an anagram for 'dog', as in the RSPCA advert,
'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.'
I'm with you all the way, Oli!
Much appreciated!
John |
Written by JourneyAtNight (318 comments posted) 21st July 2008 | Saw the number of reviews and was intrigued. You're pieces always seems to ignite discussion!
Great piece, interesting concept although I tend to think many of our boundaries are self-inflicted through our own frustrations.
I too thought the ending was very effective (even if you are mocking us  ) and I also liked the second stanza - for me it set the piece into motion.
Best wishes,
E
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