How the Working Man Views the Poet

[IceM]

Sweaty forehead,
a gaunt face--
a knee-high pile of laundry
that sometimes trips his children.

A threadbare table,
ceramic plates.
Soft as mush,
excess apples from a supermarket sale
rot in a chipped bowl.

Newspaper articles of a struggling poet,
the decline of art,
the death of the craft.

Maybe he should work for his money.

[Hawkman]

I love the imagery but I can't decide if it's describing the poet's environs or the working man's. I rather like the idea of a poet straining at his craft so that his forehead sweats and he neglects his home and family - it's humerously ironic. Going the other way though I'm sort of reminded of that old Dire Straights song, Money for Nothing. If only poetry paid ;)

Live and be well - H

[hillwalker]

I also tend to feel this is more about how the poet views the working man than the other way round - but it's no worse for that despite its rather depressing conclusion.

H

[Bar22do]

Agree with previous... but enjoyed reading!

[Delta40]

I agree but like the others, it's no worse for the confusion at all!

[cafolini]

In this one there is an assumption as to the poet, as always struggling and the death of art. But what really is a poet? Can we say that a poet is a poet before he/she is recognized as such? And the death of art I can't buy. I buy the death of the classics as of much value today other than historical. But there are piles of successful art of the day that might not fit with your likes.

[deryk]

How very sad. It feels like a study in despair and inequity. Ironically, it also reminds me of my kitchen's current state...

[IceM]

Thank you all for reading my poem. I've been working on some ideas, and I'm glad the discussion has focused on the content, not the craft (which I was quite afraid would ruin the idea!)

I'm quite surprised you all see this as an inverse of the title. I figured the ending would epitomize the scorn one may have for another that profits from a task that does not require sweat.


In this one there is an assumption as to the poet, as always struggling and the death of art. But what really is a poet? Can we say that a poet is a poet before he/she is recognized as such? And the death of art I can't buy. I buy the death of the classics as of much value today other than historical. But there are piles of successful art of the day that might not fit with your likes.

The inclusion of the "death of the art" in my poem is not a reflection of my personal view on art and poetry.

[blank|verse]

Yes, perhaps it's a bit too simplistic, although the diction and prosaic listing of home life is quite fitting.

I take it hill means that 'the poet's view' is your own view of the working man. Still, interesting stuff.