SLAMMING POETRY: THE POETRY OF THE 1 %

Check out today's New York Times "Books of the Times"
review and find Alien Vs. Predator by one Michael Robbins.
Poetry endorsed by The New Yorker and now published
by major house Penguin.

Poems without heart or substance. Playing with language
is the primary attraction.

So, this is what we've left with our pulling out from the
community.  Those of us who have retreated into our
own private reveries and nightmares.  I will take first
blame for this, or at least blame enough for myself.

There are others, some of whom know who they are.
And there are the cast of imposters, whose names I've
said often enough elsewhere so will leave them
unmentioned this time.

Of course, this poem, the one you're reading, is unnecessary,
is it not?  The world hasn't changed at all. Yet, the planet
can no longer tolerate our persistent ignorance and cowardice.

We do have the likes of the young bloods who start
sites like the one I'm writing this on.  Let's hope they
don't abrogate their responsibility to themselves
and to the world.

Rich Quatrone May 24 2012 8:46am