Somethings wrong with the world today,
Aerosmith's understatement of reality
spills through radio speakers & usually,
music balms my soul, as i dismantle
a ticking bomb, the morning paper
lays in pieces strewn across the
kitchen table in my humble home
nothing is new(s), ever tightening the noose,
hung below the limbs of the tree of truth,
rotten fruit, picked at by crows, enabling
power's abuse, conform to the new norm
or get kicked in the caboose---
0:15
0:14
0:13
[snip]
the local minor league team is locked in
the cellar, looking for a way out, just
like we all are, while in the center,
color comics, Steve Sheep of Pearls
Before Swine glory, leads the flock
to the farmer, only to be abandoned when
they all hide as he speaks up for them
then gets sheered for his time a
nd inciting dis-order
along with other things you should know
the new Mecca is now in San Francisco
where they line up to touch a life size Yoda
statue as it doles secret wisdom to Force
following masses in broken phrases,
both jumbled and backwards
back to the front page, re(a)d all over again,
a politician raises her arms in a straw poll victory,
another damn attempt at rewriting history,
in the making of kings and queens, royalty
of the Washington hegemony, yeah hedge your money
but i guess her mother never read her
Three Little Pigs otherwise, she'd realize
straw houses get blown down, gone with the wind,
no matter how you spin and pass out promises
in riddles like alien jedi masters
fools no one,
yet fools, every-one
of them.
i consider re-attaching the wires,
just to watch the timer tick to zero
but why bother.
if the world ends, just leave a post it
note on the door of my dwelling,
i am sure i might find it but until then,
i'll be too busy living, or trying
to make one, this is only the end
of the beginning.
OpenLinkNight @ dVerse Poets Pub opens at 3 pm EST today! I will be hosting this afternoon and would love to extend this invitation to you...write something poetic, come hang out and read or just stop in. I look forward to seeing you there. This poem is what happens when you read the sunday paper. hahaha. ahem.
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115 comments:
Love this line "fools no one,
yet fools, every-one of them"
This was a topical rant that you could post on any day from any paper. Everything is black, people clawing over the top of others all in their selfish pursuits, their 15 minutes, their search for power and glory. This always brings me down too.
thought provoking as usual
royalty of the Washington hegemony, yeah hedge your money
And now they want to take away the incentive of the military. Yeah, the pension for putting your life on the line for your country should be equivalent to that of a corporate paper pusher. Thanks. and yeah, thanks.
haha yep the news is loaded with more bull then a politician
Unless it's about one then that's a whole different expedition
Like the post it note idea
I'll second that with a cheer
Things could get better, could get worse
Could be happy, could curse
But away we still must go
Until kablooie and there is nothing left to show
Only a fool refuses to evacuate when the dam starts to crack or the mountain is rumbling. While I do not suggest running I do require fighting back---this mountain and this dam is made of people who only want what is best for them NO MORE says I!
Look up the relative amount of savings and holdings them who buy or sell themselves to be elected and then compare it to your own.
How did John Boehner become worth 8 million dollars with a 200,000 a year salary?
Keep it up Brian people are listening.
The news from your country are sure scary and frustrating.
I like these lines best:
"i'll be too busy living, or trying
to make one, this is only the end
of the beginning. "
See you later ~
WOW Brian...You are saying soooo much in these words...
you sure have an ability to say much in verse...bravo my friend.
I read this twice Brian, and it is your usually unusual great and thoughtful writing.
For me, a special meaning:
"...ever tightening the noose, hung below the limbs of the tree of truth..!
And one of my favorite topics where meditation frequently leads me--your title, and final line: "...this is only the end of the beginning." Right on! Bring it on!
i don't read news, i don't turn on tv, i get my news inadvertently from my mother or my son.
you did so well tonight brian. and my openlinknight poem, i pushed and stretched myself for you:)
Whew! "I guess her mother never read her/Three Little Pigs..." [snort] Seriously, you've spun fine stuff from the dross of the news--now if the rest would stop spinning & start actually caring... [i live in a dream world]
I love how you take a phrase and turn in around and make it so much more.
I can barely stand to listen to the news lately. Even reading this poem was disturbing.
But you're right. It is only the end of the beginning.
=)
very thought stimulating post :)
and media is something which is very unpredictable these days :P
I love how you compared opening the morning paper to dismantling a ticking bomb.......very clever!
my husband told me recently to stop listening to NPR for a bit - too depressing! ha - i like, " i'll be too busy living" yes, need to do more of that! have a great day - ( still reading post below) :)
I avoid the news like the plague that is someday going to destroy all of us...hopefully a LONG time from now!
I came here to be cheered or, at least, uplifted. Bow I feel even more miserable!
(only joking- a bit)
Nicely written.. Loved the line "a politician raises her arms in a straw poll victory,
another damn attempt at rewriting history, "
Its so true..!! Its very provoking as well...
I happen to completely agree with Daniel here. Most certainly items are included in the paper, love the way you put it all down here and the ending of the piece I just love. Thanks see you at OLN
If this is the end of the beginning, then when is the beginning of the end? Interestingly curious!
This was powerful Brian. But it only convinces me more that I musn't read the newspaper. Then again, if it made me write like you do, I'd read a few of them daily.
i think the three little pigs and your rapper voice are just an un/off-beat-able combination...smiles.. love the stating of facts with tight imagery and without bitterness but the wild urge to live. reminded me of my fav. quote by german reformator martin luther who said: if the world would go down tomorrow i would plant an apple tree today
Lots of great content and truths here Brian! Specially:
" nothing is new(s), ever tightening the noose,
hung below the limbs of the tree of truth,
rotten fruit, picked at by crows, enabling
power's abuse, conform to the new norm
or get kicked in the caboose---"
Thanks for sharing your light and knowledge!
Best regards,
Roger ☺
Nothing like the daily news to bring a body down.
The power of print... the power of living.
My mom was telling me about the straw poll winner and she was so confused because I cut her off and told her not to talk to me about politics. I despise that subject.
Wait, life sized Yoda statue?
Claudia's Martin Luther quote seems to be spot on with the tone of your poem.
We're all having to deal with the fact that America is not a young country anymore....awful growing pains right now. But just when I start to take heart from the Europeans I see American-style burning and looting in the streets. Maybe it has something to do with the growing pains of global consciousness, I don't know.
Solid--and of course, you're preachin to the choir here, but I loved every word. I especially liked the straw/Three Little Pigs ref. The paper as time bomb, news as a WMD, with you disarming also very effective. But my fave line is: "...if the world ends, just leave a post it
note on the door..."
Cool, Brian...."I'll be too busy living, or trying to make one..." I am also very disillusioned with the news...but I can't turn it off :) I love the post it note...good stuff!
I love the way you take ordinary things and put your spin on them poetically. You are so talented.
I liked your reference to that Pearls Before Swine... I've felt that way at least three times this week.
Is there even any happy news anymore?
Impressively compelling piece here, Brian...a little bit of rhyme, some word play..timely topic.
From the Bachmann backhand to allusions to one of the most complicated songs of all time, "Strange Fruit," to Biblical phrases. All of it timely, all of it true. Easy to be disheartened when the bozos try to take control of the bus. BRILLIANT. Take heart, Brian. Activism is alive and well - if everyone uses their phones!! Peace, Amy
Sure hope the minor team gets out of the cellar, not a fun place to be at all.
xo
And that is why, most days, I only read the comics. But as always, this was brilliant.
More and more, I feel like the rest of us, the sane ones, need to stand up and be heard... just like this.
Poetics plucked from the paper.
Brilliant construction built from the columns - inspiration from the nation.
Nice one Brian
Arron
you know, the third graph i really really liked. insightful and still playful throughout.
Some great rhyme and wordplay in this Brian, terrific analogy of the newspaper/ticking bomb. These in particular are kick-ass lines.
back to the front page, re(a)d all over again,
a politician raises her arms in a straw poll victory,
another damn attempt at rewriting history,
in the making of kings and queens, royalty
of the Washington hegemony, yeah hedge your money
This is such a funny and clever post, Brian. Love it. Your play on words is getting better and better and I really like the countdown to 'snip'. All politicians seem to be in it only for themseves. And the new Mecca... hilarious (eeuw I'd better watch out)! ...this is only the end of the beginning, brilliant.
I do believe we have entered what I call 'The quickening'
The world seems to be rushing headlong into...something. Like a steamroller without a driver to steer it, we are racing into ... something. You've captured it all here, so well. Apocalyptic thoughts, maybe.
God help you all there in America
and the rest of the world too, if that lady ever gets elected.
Brian, this is fabulous writing, once again~!
I felt every word. I am hearing you on FM! Poetry as rallying cry, breathing life into the things that matter.
Whoosh! When you gotta rant might as well go big. Feeling all of it.
So interesting how this translates across the pond.. ;) Same old...
Seemingly effortless unravelling of how things are and how news moguls play it. These lines stand out for me:
hung below the limbs of the tree of truth
Oh yes...
Topical today - reading you back to back with Joy. OMG - the horse race has started and that nag Perry in the fray. I itch all over and can't watch as foggy bottom sinks deeper in the miasma. Well done, as always, Brian.
Strong piece... I feel the same. Love your play on words.
I avoid the news and reviews...and agreed if the world ends..leave a post it...I do however need to drive to SF to check out this Yoda thing...bkm
This is surely a hurting time for nearly everyone. At least we have the freedom to speak the truth, and the comfort of making art..xxxxx excellent write. xxxj
Really well-crafted piece.
The truth in this poem makes me sad. Good writing.
I suppose we were both feeling a little disillusioned today, lol...
Great song, maybe you can enjoy it better next time. I have a lot of favorite lines here, but I'll pick out these,
"...no matter how you spin and pass out promises
in riddles like alien jedi masters
fools no one,
yet fools, every-one
of them."
So true, and well done :)
Ah, Brian...with you all the way on this diatribe v. D.C., v. our society, damaged...tragic. You say it so well. I could not have said it at all. I would only add my name to the post-it and say, damn it, wake up!! Thanks for that articulate, angry piece of wonder! xx
I just caught up with everything! So grateful for your recent visits, Brian.
I don't know what it is... something's wrong with our eyes... great piece man. Love that song too. And thanks for all you do, brother
Oh let's hope straw polls blow down HARD!!! PLEASE!!!
..have you ever tried sending your piece in a newspaper..? perhaps, consider doing so to give folks somehow a sensible read.. what we have in the new these days aren't so interesting and just a waste of time to listen or read.. for all is a repeated mistakes and flaws.
~kelvin
this is why I watch disney channel instead CNN (well not the only reason why - but you know what I mean - smiles)
Perfectly stated poetic commentary on our topical surroundings. Loved the 'post it' play. Its that I enjoy the most about your words, you tie the ordinary in beautiful knots! Always enjoy you ~ Rose
not sure that 'enjoyed' is quite the right word, but nevertheless I did enjoy this poem, always like your word play such as new(s)
..one line in particular really stood out for me 'hung below the limbs of the tree of truth'....
Ohh.. oozing with truth, this one...
vivid pictures flashed before my eyes as I was reading this poem... really, newspapers puts images in one's mind.. whew!
Well expressed here, Brian! I loved the part about straw houses.. tooo good!!
Thank you for a poem that tries to truly see the dilemma of our lives today!
Hey, I don't need to turn on the news now, so I can read more. The sky may be falling, or is the ocean rising? Any hoot, enjoyed the thought provacations again. Well written, top shelf.
Just this past week, I think I gave up the last official tie I had to 35 years in and around the News business. This morning, I cut my newspaper subscription down to Sunday-only (mostly for the crossword and color comics). If ever a poem came along and captured the right time of my time, this one's it. My cynicism matches yours, Brian. Ooo-rah.
Mighty fine social commentary, as usual. Must say, really dug the straw poll stanza...what the heck do Iowan's know anyway, right?! (smile). Though you started with Aerosmith, I had Morrison running through my head at the opening & close ~
Only the end of the beginning... and the world goes round. An entertaining reflection on the daily news. Oh, how it does over-sate!
"nothing is new(s), ever tightening the noose,
hung below the limbs of the tree of truth," Lovin' the word play Brian:-)
Astute observations of the state of things told in that snappy repartee that you do so well. I would love to escape the rat-race but it's the same all over. Even though I write a lot about dark things I'm basically upbeat...but it's a challenge right now.
Patience grasshopper! Out of great chaos, change is born, and this too shall pass. Such is life, when you're living on the edge ;) Let's let go of the power trips, the trigger grips and just BE for a moment, protected by the umbrella of this freakin' fantastic write. Have I told you lately...you rock (Broken records don't scratch as good...but I mean it every single time!)
I see you like wordplay and the use of nursery rhymes, like I do. I liked the the way the mention of a bomb went right to the newspaper strewn on the table and I like the line about the noose around the fruit of truth.
so many of us feel this was but you created an eloquence to the sad state of affairs we are experiencing..... the last stanza says it so clearly "if the world ends, just leave a post it note on the door of my dwelling, " fabulous insight into common feeling amongst us all!
Is this skeptical? Or is it plain reality...I don't know. From the looks of my newspaper it is absolutely ON TARGET! I like the "this is only the end of the beginning."
I read this just after watching the nightly national news. Twenty minutes to cram in a few sound byte and did they say anything real? One of the major stories was that people sometimes pretend to talk on their cellphone to avoid having to talk to people. I decided at that point to swear off watching such uselessness evry night.
I enjoyed reading this very much.
Lots to think about,
lots to get pissed about.
Getting to the senior club in age
has made me skeptical and annoyed
with the news, the see thru agendas.
Thanks.
Siggi in Downeast Maine
Oh, I hate the news as it's always so depressing!
Your take on it was spot on!
Loved your ending!
Thank you Brian for another great write!
I love nearly everything about this: tone, content, language, structure.
Only a little disappointed that your rhymes, internal and otherwise, don't happen in every verse. I can cope with them beng (apparently) haphazard, which suits the piece; just expected them in some verses where they weren't. But then, I have just come from a full-rhymed piece, which perhaps influenced my expectation.
It's terrific anyway; and I must mention how much I also like the wry humour with the serious subject matter.
I don't know what this type of a poem is called Brian, but I like the way one line rushes into the next and the 'a' at the end of one line finishes with an 'nd' at the beginning of a new line. Because isn't this how we live in this crazy world that the newspaper portrays - and like you I'm just going to keep doing my thing until it ends. Great post Brian.
This confirms it - no news is definitely good news. Awesome, Brian.
Really well-crafted piece, Brian. I'm not too worried about Bachmann (because I think it's ultimately good that folks become aware that we've never had a woman pres. and women only make up 17% of Congress. I am, however, irritated that there are women who get behind MB just because they want to see a woman pres. Hardly a good enough reason to justify her abominable politics.
As for Yoda, yeah, he's on the grounds of LucasFilms, a minute from my office! It's so fun to walk by him when I visit their Starbucks.
I'm glad the new Mecca is in San Francisco... My neighbours may stay away for longer ;)
I have very much the same feelings about the world today. It is insane with violence, riots, wars, hunger and bad economics. So I have stopped reading news or watching news on TV.;)) And I feel much better.;)
Hope you will have a nice day dear Brian,
xoxo
Fools no one yet fools every-one...one of my favorite lines in here. I would have to agree with Daniel on this one. Seems like nowadays everyone wants to be on top and will do anything to get there. I could really feel the chaos of the news in this piece. tick, tick, tick
if the world ends, just leave a post it
note on the door of my dwelling,
i am sure i might find it but until then,
i'll be too busy living, or trying
to make one, this is only the end
of the beginning.
Post it notes can be used for anything that comes between life and death. Loved the flow of this Brian.
I think they feel they have fooled us all and in the end, they have just fooled themselves!! Ha!
It all sometimes seems so bleak!
Sigh
Hugs
SueAnn
I haven't read a social comment poem that I have loved so much in literally years. Fantastic work. Love the hegemony!! Brilliant, ironic, powerful.
I always recognize you more in these writing than in fictional short stories
love all the allusions - don't wait for the sticky note. Just keep living until you decide to stop.
Brian, some very powerful images here of the needless anxiety spawned by today's sick political and media culture. I think that there's a bit of Steve the Sheep in all of us poets in this day and age.
David
So well done... seems so authentic! Just leave a post- it!
I can see the
You had me at the very first lines... something is wrong but it is hard to put one's finger on it. I always expect a thought-provoking read,here, and I'm not disappointed today.
Pressed Enter too quickly ... I thought about the image of reading the paper before I saw your explanation at the end ... it really does speak to it all. Love this piece...
I enjoyed your interview feature over at the Jingle Community.
http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/08/meet-poet-wednesday-on-waystationone.html
Very clever and a great read Brian.
I particular like the idea of politicians (and we've got plenty like this in the UK) spinning and passing out promises in riddles like alien jedi masters.
Brian, so much your voice reminds me of my husband's. Great social/political commentary wrapped in fragmented line structure that really gives the feel of the chaos of it all.
Another amazingly perceptive and topical poem Brian. Visits here never disappoint.
Nice word play and I love the post-it note line, and "this is only the end of the beginning". Thoughtful and meaningful, I enjoyed it.
a sharp and powerful state-of-the-world commentary. i can smell the cynicism from here... *smiles*
I heard the news today oh boy...
You sure did turn it on, up... Really good!
~I'm glad I got a chance to stop by and enjoy your write.
Here- I'm leaving you some cookies ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xljFT44Y1Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player
deb.
This is my favorite of yours thus far! Well done.
This zips along nicely - anger nearly always provides plenty of fuel to the writing engine.. :) // Peter.
I think you just told the story of all of us.
Great Sunday mornings there, Brian ;) Since I can't leave a post-it on the door of your dwelling, I'll be happy with a post-comment-it on the wall of your virtual habitat. Engaging words. I think I wil subscribe for Sunday's paper *smile*
back to the front page, re(a)d all over again
... good one Brian =)
p.s. what do you put in your coffee anyway? Cheers to you!
Incisive yet gentle, your stream of thought, and as always your images intrigue-- nice.
Incisive truths be told... oh how you weave from the every-day. Wonderful piece.
No News Is Good News...I wish I wasn't addicted to watching it....
Brilliant write Brian ♥ ஆ ~.^
I don't see much hope. Too much division, too much greed.
I like what you wrote about leaving a post-it note on the door. I hope that mine will say, "Sailed away".
like it all but the third stanza stands out. nice work
I love the enjambment in this one. It is so much like Philip Larkins' sprung rhythm!
Love the end & all the bits in between :)
That third stanza just rocks. I love "nothing is new(s), ever tightening the noose" Haven't heard that Aerosmith song in a minute! Lots of great lines in here, just bursting with passion and imagery.
"back to the front page, re(a)d all over again..."
Hi! Brian...
Thanks, for taking me and your readers on this journey with you as you re(a)d the black and white print.
[with a "eye to" and "pointing out" the truth!]
Thanks, for sharing!
deedee ;-D
I like re-attaching the wires. Yes up is down and right is wrong, even morality is no earthly good, go ahead I have post its. I leave the note.
thanks...
I tend to stay away from the news mate, its always bad anyway ;)
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