Does a farmer hate trudging through cow-pats and mud?
Does a florist hate torturing blossom and bud?
Do accountants hate ledgers? If so, you should see
Why an over-worked poet may hate poetry!
Does a school-teacher hate the young brats in her class?
Does the factory hand want to say "Kiss my a---!"
To the boss and the foreman? If so, you should see
Why an over-wrought poet may hate poetry!
Does the housewife hate humdrum chores day after day?
Does the priest hate the rubrics that FORCE him to pray?
Does the soldier hate squad-drill? If so, you should see
Why an over-tired poet may hate poetry!
Does the fisherman hate when the fish will not bite?
The night-watchman detest the long boredom of night?
Does the banker hate bankrupts? If so, you should see
Why an "over-due" poet may hate poetry!
For (though the non-poet may think it absurd)
Poetry is our WORK. ("Work"'s a "four-letter" word!)
And my Editor's screaming... So surely you'll see
Why this over-stressed poet detests poetry?
A contest entry
- For Poets who hate Poetry by .
300 points, ended March 17, 2007, 7 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Living Life Your Way by gettingoutofme.
390 points, ended July 22, 2008, 20 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Do You Write Serious Poetry or the Kind that Rhymes? (Contest) by Peripatetic.
1400 points, ended July 29, 2008, 27 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Let It All Out!!! (Pws allowed and more than one) by Intricate Wordsmith.
450 points, ended August 24, 2008, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Most of us find ourselves somewhat unhappy or dissatisfied in our professions, careers or current jobs at some time and perhaps daily. The question is what drew us to the work we do. Sometimes it is just urgency and basic qualifications, but others do that for which they've studied and prepared.
In all of the life/work combinations noted by the poet, there may be a certain satisfaction found in a love of the work and for doing it well. The love is often overshadowed though by the inherent drudgery of any long term routine.
Surely a professional may hate writing for a deadline or for submission to an editor who has much different concerns than the artist, but is there anything else you would rather do?
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I have just found your comment on my poem "The Reason" - which you made on 29 July last, (Please excuse the long delay -but things have been rather hectic for the last few months!)
You ask if there is anything I would rather do than write. Doubtless meant as one of those questions which as the grammar books used to say, "Expects the answer 'No'). Well, in fact, several things... but poor health and poorer sight (to say nothing of the career restrictions on women fifty years ago!) made them impossible. However, a teacher I had had at primary school (herself a retired journalist who volunteered for teaching during WWII to release someone younger for the armed forces - she had no pedagogic training but was undoubtedly the best teacher I have ever met, who somehow managed to give personal attention to everyone in a class of more than 50 pupils - much larger than the legal limit, but during WWII no one bothered too much about such regulations!) insisted that whatever else I wanted to do, I should also train to be a freelance writer - "so as to have something SAFE to fall back on!". For which - the way things turned out - I was subsequently VERY grateful...
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This is a nice poem and I can esily see what you mean. Sometimes writing poem after poem seems like too much or sometimes not enough. And deadlines are never my friends. Good luck in the contest and with your own deadlines.
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lol, wonderful! all poets have this attitude every now and again. Expressive and well said.
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I inderstand fully
I love this poem and yes it does give a clear message. It is also humorous which makes it great.
Maybe next book hey? You take it easy.
HUGS
Jan -
lol. That is funny. I know you said there was no need to return the favor, but I felt inclined to do so and I'm glad I did. Very enjoyable and refreshing!
I will be sure to never make poetry a part of my work (wait... that might not work if I want to be a singer...). Well, I'll try at least to make it my escape - always.
Again, very enjoyable and fun to read. Great rhythm.
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Certainly stronger than the majority of poems I read on this site. Your meter was, for the most part, solid. The subject was also enjoyable.
I'd be curious to know what your editor thought about this one?
I stumbled on the second line of the fourth stanza. "night-watchman" is difficult for me to scan in a manner that doesn't disrupt the melody of the poem. Initially, the second line of the last stanza was a bit troubling too, but I can make that one work out okay.
I'm not particularly fond of the presentation. The repition and parallel phrasing started to feel "sing-songish". Perhaps that was your intent? Afterall, the content is light-hearted.
Nevertheless, it's lovely to find someone who understands what it means to craft pleasant verse poetry.
- C.H.
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Very good points Vera! We can only enjoy poetry when it is play, and by extension, enjoy life when we don't take it seriously. This poem deserves an audience. 
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Well, my main poetic task at present is translating Shevchenko (we are already preparing for the 2011 sesquicentenary and the 2014 bicentenary) - and I think you have been long enough in Ukraine to understand what a huge responsibity that is...
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