The King is dead...long live the King!

someone told me recently that “Poetry is dead.”
I didn’t believe them so queried further

“Oh sure, you still read about it in the newspapers,
when some “so and so” comes out with another book,
but do you watch it on prime time, see it in movies?
There, see, what did I tell you? Poetry is dead.”

it made me sad to hear those words
but to a certain degree had to agree
though one could walk into a library
still find it catalogued
all the books were old
as if something were missing
and though I’d personally venture out to bookstores
found poetry sections
a store clerk informed me that it wasn’t selling well…

“Most folks prefer a good mystery novel or reference book,
but for the most part, Poetry is dead.”

“What was the problem?”
I asked myself
“Are people just not interested?”
or do they simply not have the time
but with supposedly so much more time on our hands
you’d think poetry would be thriving
but “Poetry is dead.”

I heard a rumor the other day
that the only people who read poems
are the poets themselves
the syntax and imagery far too complicated
or maybe the school system should be held accountable
“Are they not keeping up with changes in the field?”

I tried to ignore what appeared the inevitable
despite accusations of being old fashioned
‘a hopeless romantic’
most folks it seemed were in too much a hurry
to sit down for a few moments
examine the beauty of a few words
though I continued putting ink to paper
because something deeper told me
Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!
while the wife would look on as if I had three heads

she asked
“Why believe in such a hopeless dream?”
I just kept on writing, responding with a smile
“Because haven’t you heard dear?
Poetry is dead.”

© 1980
Revised © 2016

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09/28/2016

Posted on 09/28/2016
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti