*photo by Kerri Tenbrunsel There are many ways of skinning the cat
Flipping the coin
Rolling the dice.
Poetry is life.
Many try, Most fail
To modernize poetry and verse
Modern music and rap
Have come so close
Yet fall into the the trap of time
Keep it simple and pure
Keep it real and sincere
Capture the sound of silence
Stop the struggle with unreality.
If it’s woke, it’s broke
Out with pretension
In with infectious appreciation
Be real. Address the core of humanness
Add to society
The answer does not lie in chemistry
Or effete erudition, be real to the core
Enjoy implore what surrounds you
If you’ve nothing to add
Keep your victimous blad
To yourself
Don’t squeeze it
To verse!
“Thank you, uh! Thank you very much, uh!”
Author’s Note: Inspired by the words of the famed writer, author, poet when he was asked at one of his many public presentations to categorize Modernization verse. He described it at a failed attempt at “effete erudition.” Thank you, John. You’re a genius at sticking words of wisdom on target with your characterization of those who strain to grapple the emotions of unreality. And thank you, Josh Roark, Editor of Frontier Poetry for complimenting me with “Tom, your genius is your error,“ thus steering my career away from effete erudition.
My modern struggling poets. Lighten up. Address humanis. Drop divisiveness. Be real. Come back to reality. Resist unscrupulous effete erudition in your poetic intention. Add humor and regular people will start reading your junk. Did you know that Carl Sandburg introduced humor to poetry? He received three Pulitzers and never rhymed a verse. Young poets you can learn from history. You won't make history by being pretentiously obtuse. Uh! That goes for everyone. My dad used to say come down from your high horse and find joy among the hoi polloi.
I’m not sure if Elvis has left the building😳