Red, White, and You
#10
(01-31-2017, 11:06 AM)mrweiner Wrote:  As an aside, I was following along with The 14 Characteristics of Fascism and this reddit comment as I was making my way through writing. Not sure if that gives any perspective on anything here or not.

I've never written any politically-focused poetry (maybe I should keep it that way), so I don't entirely know what my aim was here. It's probably more of a preaching-to-the-choir or preaching-to-those-interested-in-joining-the-choir piece than something intended to change, for instance, your mind. I know it's polarizing. That was certainly the point. I've never had any thoughts of my country headed toward fascism prior to the last week and a half, although I now recognize that there's no way for somebody outside of my head to know that.

(01-31-2017, 09:19 AM)Donald Q. Wrote:  
(01-31-2017, 08:17 AM)mrweiner Wrote:  Fascism? This again?
My feelings when I read this poem. 

I can certainly understand why you'd feel that way, since I'm putting words these words into the mouth of a narrator with whom you share this sentiment.

In all seriousness, this poem is a bit patronising and overreaching. I would perhaps recommend focusing on something less nebulous. 
Why not start smaller, write a poem about flags specifically? Sorry if this seems unhelpful, I just feel this is the wrong approach to take to a political poem.

Should all writing really be written in a non-patronizing tone of voice? Sometimes people and ideas can be patronizing. Shouldn't we, as writers, be able to use that as another tool? 

I could certainly write a poem about flags, but I don't give much of a damn about flags. I'd rather concern myself with the people flying them.
Okay, let me offer a more helpful critique. If it's a case of 'preaching to the choir' and an expression of your personal feelings on the changes in your county, then I want to feel more personality coming through in the poem! 
I think addressing it all to a second person hampers the poem; it ends up feeling didactic rather than passionate. That reddit post you linked is, indeed, full of some important discussion of Trump's worrying actions. However, within the context of your poem, those details are scarce; I understand that flippant lines about black people are fully intended to be risible, but again it gives nothing to latch onto. 
Your meter, for the most part, has quite a bounce to it, the tetrameter gives it a waltz like rhythm that is potentially quite pleasant, but is broken in places and also is hampered by your tone. I think that if you want to fully embrace this rhythm you could perhaps create something more satirical and cheeky, slip in more humor and go full Weimar Cabaret [Fitting, no?]. I hope this is more helpful crit, my apologies if I seemed overly dismissive but directly political poetry is a tricky beast. [P.s when I said write about flags I obviously did not mean write a fucking poem about nice fabrics and patterns, I mean use your skills of METAPHOR to write about PEOPLE whilst using imagery beginning with FLAGS, so don't get high and mighty with me, Weiner!] I am always happy to crit more, so don't be scared off doing a revision by my dickishness.

Also thought I would quickly spot check the meter seeing as I was talking about it; it is only in dactyl tetrameter for the first stanza, the rest is actually in Amphibrach tetrameter. This is the reason I was drawn to suggest humor in your poem; as it is the way the meter is often used.
You use both 11 and 12 syllable lines correctly with the AT meter, but it may be worth structuring more when you use each to give shape to the whole poem. 

(01-31-2017, 08:17 AM)mrweiner Wrote:  Fascism? This again? Flags are in, citizen,  DT
yours are right there between Finley and Finnigan, DT
fold them up, faster, for children and women, men, DT
help us ensure that the U.S. will win again.    DT

You do want our country to prosper, correct? AT from here to the end
You want to keep all of your freedoms intact?
You like having money and like to expect that
you're worth more than others whose thoughts you reject?

Then listen up, now, I'll not say it once more,
you've got to speak faster to even the score,
don't think before arguments, march out your door, 
go level the field 'tween our rich and their poor. 

The terror is brown and the job thiefs are yellow,
your wives can hang out but they'd better stay mellow,
the black ones do drugs so we pen them in ghettos, 
don't venture there, you're all respectable fellows. You just about get away with respectable

Be careful with news because as you're aware Missing a comma here, you miss your 12th beat without it
so much of it's lies that are crafted to scare,
that's why we're preparing our our state-sponsored air
at which you can smile, nod, cheer, stomp or stare. Missing a beat before stare? 'Just stare'  fixes it.

Your unions are dated, they squabble unneeded,   
our corporate shepards will lead you to eden
and baptize with gold all your trickle down defects, 
diseases we wish weren't left so untreated. Second half of this line stumbles, because of 'left' probably

So, Facism, citizen? That claim's a fad, 
the fact that you think that we're headed there's sad,
forget that you thought it, its loss ironclad, 
get back to your place over there folding flags.
Reply


Messages In This Thread
Red, White, and You - by mrweiner - 01-31-2017, 08:17 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by QDeathstar - 01-31-2017, 08:52 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by mrweiner - 01-31-2017, 11:06 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by Donald Q. - 01-31-2017, 09:19 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by ellajam - 01-31-2017, 10:57 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by QDeathstar - 01-31-2017, 12:01 PM
RE: Red, White, and You - by mrweiner - 01-31-2017, 12:40 PM
RE: Red, White, and You - by QDeathstar - 01-31-2017, 01:11 PM
RE: Red, White, and You - by mrweiner - 01-31-2017, 02:25 PM
RE: Red, White, and You - by Donald Q. - 01-31-2017, 08:22 PM
RE: Red, White, and You - by mrweiner - 02-01-2017, 02:27 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by RiverNotch - 02-01-2017, 11:11 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by ellajam - 02-07-2017, 03:32 AM
RE: Red, White, and You - by spiritthebrave - 05-29-2017, 04:29 AM



Users browsing this thread: 2 Guest(s)
Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!