Epigram On American Indifference To Poetry

In Wales, it is part of the national life.

In Russia, it suffered in political strife.

In America, somewhere in the middle,

poetry is not hated,

and not appreciated;

and that is the heinous riddle.

Rome may burn, and Nero fiddle:

as the commercial gods of dollar idollatry

have deemed an undignified destiny

for any sort of poetry:

it may only exist on the periphery.

 

Starward

 

[jlc]

Author's Notes/Comments: 

The phrase "dollar idollatry" is not a typo (for once).  It was respelled to emphasize that our nation's chief idol (to the shame of even the most superificial Christian) is the dollar.

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redbrick's picture

Over the centuries, of all

Over the centuries, of all the arts and artistic pursuits, it seems, that poetry has been the poorer cousin or the whipping boy of all its other more esteemed and sought after colleagues and counterparts. Even song writing which is to my opinion a scion of poetry has elevated itself in following, investment, and celebration, above and beyond what poems and poets can hope for. But in the same observing breath we can also note that poetry has survived and even developed over the centuries. And as the Muse and her Scribe know with an unspoken understanding, this is part and parcel of their lot and reward. But those are just some thoughts.


here is poetry that doesn't always conform

galateus, arkayye, arqios,arquious, crypticbard, excalibard, wordweaver

Seryddwr's picture

Thank you for sharing those

Thank you for sharing those thoughts, and I agree with them.  When I first told my parents, in October, 1975 (which was during my senior year in high school) that I wanted to be a Poet, their first question was, "How much money do you think you can make doing that?"  Then they advised me to continue with my interest in science fiction, because it had the potential to make more money.


Seryddwr

georgeschaefer's picture

What would we do with the

What would we do with the accolades if we got them anyway?  I just wish we could learn to be kinder to one another in life.

Seryddwr's picture

That is most certainly true. 

That is most certainly true.  And yes, we all do need to be more kind to each other---and I fail at that very much, not so much by what I do, but by what I fail to do.


Seryddwr