I write my poems in common words
Yes that's my intention
I do this because otherwise
You'd think I was pretentious
Oh I could say profound words
Like 'Lend me your ears'
But anyone with any culture
Knows that is Shakespeare
I could write about my studies
And mention Socrates
I had better not do that
Or you might execute me
I could say oh how it stung
When Romeo died
Truth is I didn't cry a bit
No matter how I tried
Even though my words are common
I just want to mention
Yes this is the way I choose to write
Yes it’s my intention
More about The Poem...
This is what poetry is all about, the showcase of something different, and it's executed beautifully here in Howard's poem, the art of simple writing to create clear meaning.
This poem expresses the speaker's deliberate choice to use simple, common language in their poetry. The speaker explains that using plain words avoids coming across as pretentious, even though they are capable of referencing profound or classical works and figures like Shakespeare and Socrates. The poem humorously acknowledges the cultural weight of such references and contrasts it with the speaker's straightforward style. The closing lines reaffirm that this choice of simplicity is intentional, emphasizing authenticity over pretence.
Add comment
Comments