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Poetry
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Honesty
By Talisker
11 October 2006
Let us not worship false prophets,

Nor false poets in their stead.

Praise the clumsy words of charlatans,

The stumbling, bumbling, tread

Of interlopers, of feeble gropers,

Of those who have it not to give,

Yet offer up what should be kept

Within their fuzzy heads.

 

Let us not foment a new idolatry.

Offer to heaven the plasticine figures,

The voodoo dolls of literary trolls,

The make believe, fake, naïve,

Pretenders to the throne of verse,

Who promulgate their weak, perverse,

Doggerel dung amongst the throngs

Of the un-baptised.

 

Let us not adorn the usurpers thus,

With laurel branches or cast before

Their braying asses palm leaves,

To soften their path to perdition.

Let not mutual-praise nor groupthink,

Nor trite clichés, nor furry pink bunny rabbit,

Birthday card rhyme be our monument.

For we are better than this.  We are honest.

 

Oli (11/10/06)

Reviews

Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 11th October 2006
This is excellent. I'm just glad to have read it after I submitted work and not before. Can you really do this in one go? I particularly enjoyed 'offer up what should be kept / within their fuzzy heads. 
 
I hereby give you my word that I will not 'mutual praise.' And if you think that one of my works is good, but another is pretty awful or just mediocre, I will trust you to say so. I think that some people may submit work just to get any kind of reaction or feedback, though perhaps hoping for praise, as it is hard for writers to feel that they are merely writing into a void. I can understand that, but I personally want to publish some of my work at some point and, more importantly, feel good about what I have published, and I need to hear from people who are similarly engaged what they think works or does not work in my writing. It is hard to criticize, and certainly painful to be criticized, but what is the point of a mutual praise-fest when the idea is to produce something that is worthwhile and inspiring -- not furry pink bunny rabbit birthday card rhymes? 
 
Maybe they should have everyone who joins 'Great Writing' read your 'Honesty' before submitting work. . .

Written by Phil (6959 comments posted) 12th October 2006
A very fine and appropriate retort to local events of late. A very fine piece of work taken in a wider context too. 
 
I'm a hacking writer/sometimes poet of the 'tries hard' variety. This I aspire too.  
 
The rhythm, but especially rhyme, internal and regular, cased this work excellently. Really enjoyed all the references and images. 
 
One of my favourites. 
 
All the best, 
 
Phil.
Breath of fresh air...
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 12th October 2006
Nice poem. Plus... 
 
But a rather large chocolate buscuit for Witzl. If everyone had his/her refreshing attitude improvemnt amongst writers/wannabes would be measured by milestones. 
 
Slan!

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