we of human toxicity
can't we stop?
doing nothing
Because it is not worth
we of human toxicity
We will always fight
we will always try
we
we pause for thought
can't hide the poison
but
we try to rise above
to better ourselves
from the virus
But are knocked down
the muck
rise above
We continue to rise
Rise in our depravity
sense of privilege
and unforgivable
apathy
our wretched society
and
our stinking species
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: Been playing around with this for weeks. Decided to pull the trigger and publish because if I don't I'll miss the deadline and I will just forever regret it. Anyway, enjoy?
I've not done a "here are a few other things by me" type bit...so here you go:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (11)
This requires careful reading, which prompts thoughtfulness. Exactly what we need these days! “we try to rise above to better ourselves from the virus But are knocked down” works really well both ways, and I like how your use of repetition emphasises the message depending on which way you are going. Very much a topical issue. Nicely done Paul 👏
'our stinking species' indeed. Not an inaccurate assessment overall I'm sad to admit. You nailed the issue with your words my friend. Do I detect a glimmer of hope on the second reading? Where humanity admits its flaws but wants to find a way out? Very thought provoking poem x
We are a horrible species and you wrote it right!👏
Well-penned, my friend! Works wonderfully in reverse. These inverse poems are tricky! I'm working on two at the moment and I'm kinda scared to post them 🫣
Wretched society and stinking species! That's exactlyyyyyyy what we are! Your poem was fantastic, both forwards and in reverse! 🍩🥐
One by one, yes. As a species, it is what we call an impossible possibilty.
This poem has a stuttering, breathless quality, almost as if the speaker is fighting the social disease and choking on it while his/her doppelgänger fans or ignores the flames. In both senses it is difficult to read because unhappily both are equally true. Excellent and thought provoking work, Paul. I think it is closer to completion than you might think.
I like this very clever and a great reflection of our society.
Great job. These inverse thingys are fun, and frustrating and oh look, there's a squirrel. Well done, Buddy.
OOH, this is awesome! That second reading is my favorite of the two, but damnn, you really hit the nail on the head with your vitriol here! There's a very complementary set of themes in each poem: the sense that we're toxic by choice, and sense that it's our nature and we're trying to rise above it, but keep failing. It's very cool to see those work together.
Loved the story