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Degree of Snark

by Glenn Currier

Sometimes diplomas are deleterious to a degree
it seems the cap, gown, and certificate holder
buys a telescope and starts using it to see
loses the ability to write freely and bolder
becomes particularly adept at speaking in snark -
so much easier than personally and intimately connecting -
preferring critique to finding and being a creative spark
becoming expert not so much from practice as from correcting.

I knew a man who used to be my friend
until he acquired his PhD
then he began to depart and ascend
too high for him to see little ole me
I knew too a few who were doctors and buddies
whose degrees didn’t pedestal them
who didn’t let their higher studies
erase their humor, make their hearts go dim.

03/19/2019

Author's Note: This was inspired by Chris Sorrenti’s limerick, “Comments” (https://pathetic.org/poem/1552996563) in which he bemoans a certain guy named Dupreʹ who had an English Literature degree and habitually made snarky comments on others’ poems on a poetry website but never posted a poem of his own.

Posted on 03/19/2019
Copyright © 2024 Glenn Currier

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 03/19/19 at 04:13 PM

Expertly stated, Glenn. While I was running a poetry reading series here in Ottawa, I would occasionally receive submissions from poets looking for a reading. Some would boast of English degrees. Their work was like entering the Tajmahal...well constructed, but no soul.

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 03/19/19 at 04:46 PM

PS: Thanks for the credit/plug!

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