Not Another Poem!
Nothing personal, just one person's opinion.
Not another poem.
This can’t be true.
Every new story notice I get,
Leaves me disappointed and upset.
I hope for a story,
600 words or more,
But what I uncover is 50 to 100
Rarely higher than fourscore.
With poems of old
The words would at least rhyme.
Unfortunately, that’s no longer necessary,
Why bother?
Why take the time?
Spend 20 minutes and get a top-story pay
Or spend 2 or more hours and watch your work fade away.
I’m not whining,
I’m just stating a fact.
Please, please, please, bring the prose back!
About the Creator
Mark Gagnon
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes


Comments (11)
Interesting take. I say just write whatever brings you peace, and just have fun with it.
This made me laugh...even if I felt...not targetted as such...at least...responsible for your ire a little. I don't like rhyming much in poetry. But have written a lot of stories longer than 600. But, I did appreciate this and for someone who stays away from poetry usually...this is a great piece. And I love hearing different opinions...far from triggered or anything silly like that...I enjoy not everyone thinking everything is amazing! Well done, Mark, on this and for voicing your opinion!
But, Poems are awesome! I agree that the more advanced the literature, the less work and wisdom is put into it but that's because humanity has fallen so low, the less meaning and spirituality something has, the more popular! Check out the music, clothes and simple novels! It's technically always easier to listen to a song that allows you to run away from life, than one that gets your emotions working. sometimes they literally make me sick! But hey, most of mine rhyme so fell free to check them out...
I can meet you in the middle with short prose 😁😊🤔🧐
Should I take this personally? ;) Okay, I promise prose professionally processed post-haste!
I prefer stories too but always have to take a stab at some of these poetry challenges. It does seem like it's the dominating genre on here. Which I guess isn't a terrible thing. So yeah, Bring back the prose!!!
For what it's worth, I spend the same amount of time to write and proofread my poems, stories and articles. They all take me 1 week, sometimes more 😅 Anyway, looks like you're in luck because my next piece is a story. Unfortunately it's only 366 words, not 600 or more. Sorry Mark hehehehe
The contrarian poet. Well, I write mostly prose and often longer than 600 words. If you're a sucker for prose punishment I even wrote one with 10,000! I have written a poem here and there, so you may want to avoid them since they don't rhyme (mostly).
well, well, well.... look who got into the poetry game!!! Looks like you had some fun with this one!! I love the nah-sayer but also show off kind of attitude this presents with in my mind!! Great work Mark!
I am bit baffled by the mercurial tastes of the contemporary reader: a 3000 word analysis of Shelley's fiction, influenced by the ideas and arguments of Aristotle? Too long, boring and pretentious. A haiku? Laughably brief and banal. I am about to post an ekphrastic sonnet, but in your honor, what follows it will be a short story.
I will see what I can do! lol