Proper Poet, Proper Prick
“Give a fuck about traditions, stop impressin’ the dead.” - St. Chroma by Tyler, The Creator
Am I a proper poet
Or a proper prick
Why can't I be both
_
Okay so I don't rhyme
Not much anyway
But that's no crime
_
I may not seem trad
I may seem quite
What's the word
_
Oh, obstinate
Difficult and
Contrarian
_
When people hear
I'm a poet
They expect not I
_
Not my sober
Sombre subversion
Addiction, depression
_
Where's the rain
Where's the sun
Who the fuck cares
_
I listened to St. Chroma
Again by the Creator
Tyler and as ever
_
Was inspired to
Pick up arms
Create a pushback
_
Call it art, call it poetry
Pulsating, rhythmical
The remedy we all need
_
To stave ourselves off
The bad news
And dying economy
_
It's not about a girl
The girl that, dare I say,
Rocks my world
_
There are plenty of
Rain dance celebrations
Poetic pole vaulting
_
Metaphorical medicating
And then the sky opened
Cracked before my eyes
_
And bioluminescence
Rained over me
Dancing, dripping
_
A canopy of watercolours
Stretched across the sky
Then the words come
_
Then the inflections and infections
Infiltrate and dominate
A friend offered a thought
_
A theory on the bulk of my writing:
"I’m beginning to think you may be a structuralism-dominant person
(nothing wrong with that, I definitely appreciate structuralism
and include it in my literary theory)."
_
I think she has a point
She would say she always does
But I think she really does
_
Often in my attempt
To tell a story
Or convey emotion or experience
_
Through prose poetry or fiction
I never make it easy on myself
I take apart the process
_
There is a finite number
Of plots and emotional arcs
No story or poem is truly original
_
So often when I don't want to follow
Tradition or the purest form
I will look at stripping it down
_
Rebuilding the story or poem
From the ground up
Altering the framework
_
To me the structural integrity
The way a piece is formed
Is just as important
_
As the characters, plot
And the scenery dressing
Everything
_
It's not a gimmick
I just don't want to waste
Time, energy, or brain power
_
On retreading everything
That has gone before me
And often done better
_
I can tell a tale
As good as anyone
But why settle
_
I adore literary greats
But why emulate
Why just do what has always been done
_
I love control
And restricting what readers
Know
_
So you tell me
Am I a proper poet and storyteller
Or just a proper prick
_
A hack who thinks he's a genius
Just because I fuck with tradition
And won't follow the rules
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: Been a bit. I don't know. But felt good to put this out there. Thanks to Harper, who gave me some encouragement in the comments section of my most recent story and whom is directly quoted in the poem. Inspiration also came from St. Chroma by the mighty Tyler, The Creator.
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 (9)
I think being a “prick” is often very subjective by perception, just like what a proper poet.” I think there are the people who appreciate your raw ability to dismantle and reassemble stories and prose- we also appreciate the plain way you speak. Fact of the matter is matter of fact people are often mistaken for “pricks.” In my opinion it’s only those who must live partially in disillusionments to handle reality feel that way about people like you. They are fodder for the prose of you ask me.
Well, well... I remember you telling me something like I didn't dare to call myself a poet. I think we wouldn't be one if we wouldn't question it. And surely, you're a genius so you have two reasons not to expect to be understood by common people.
Honestly, I’ve published two poetry books, and I still struggle to call myself a "proper poet." I think the 'proper' ones are just the ones following the old rules, while the rest of us are busy stripping the framework down. Being a "proper prick" who messes with tradition is way more interesting than just retreading what's been done before. You are doing fine, just keep writing.
Anyone who asks themselves these questions is a poet in my mind. Well made, lovely Paul!
What is a proper poet? I'm sure that each of us has an idea of who we think is proper, but poetry is meant to express so much emotion, tell such a story, or to state a statement in such a way as to touch the reader's inner being. Now, I know each piece you churn out has meaning and packs a statement. So, nah, you ain't no prick Hugs to you and Ms Ruth <3
My personal poet laureate. ✨️
Since you invited an answer to your question: I think you are an improper poet who properly pricks our emotional viscera.
You always put a lot of thought into your work, and this one explains a lot as well. (I am wondering if you wouldn't mind reading my three-word haikus I wrote. You gave me the idea for your challenge, and I am having fun writing them. Please read and comment and it will be much appreciated.)
Of course I love anything that quotes me(who doesn’t?), and I love that you think outside of the box. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing the world by the axis and giving it a solid shake every now and then, just to keep the chaos fresh and make new patterns. You’re nit rejecting tradition, you’re creating your own.