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fear irrelevant

if language is the
medium of human existence
paranoia is nothing
but a word-state

and perception is relegated
to the world of subjectivity

then it is likely
my unconscious defenses
manifest in the shape

of a grinning monkey
that can't be taught
to fear flowers

Author notes

There is a distinction between 'fear relevant' and 'fear irrelevant' stimuli in the study of phobias - Susan Mineka found that you can teach monkeys to fear snakes easily, but it is pretty much impossible to make them fear flowers.

A contest entry

This is a draft - be as harsh as you like.

    I plan to revise this poem: please leave constructive criticism!
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Comments

1 - 12 of 12

  • spiritualangel
    December 23, 2008

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    if language is the
    medium of human existence
    paranoia is nothing
    but a word-state

    and perception is relegated
    to the world of subjectivity

    Well descriptive. Best of luck in the contest.

  • montez gold member
    December 15, 2008
    Edit | Reply

    Sorry...

    ....despite the note, I don't have a ferkin clue wot yerronabout!
    R


  • ml12
    November 24, 2008

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    I love it when you write about psychology. Your passion seems to come through, even when you are writing about flowers and monkeys. I am glad that monkeys are difficult to convince when it comes to trying to make them learn to fear flowers. I thought it was well written and I liked how you have woven so many terms in seamlessly. Cheers


  • Smokebox
    November 23, 2008

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    But monkeys don't have the fears that we do. A person can be afraid of flowers, be it an early death or break-up. Separation can cause defense too.


  • notorious
    November 22, 2008

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    I LOVE that first stanza and your AN



    Monkeys are bloody clever, aren't they?

    ;
    Jessica


  • Dienush
    November 22, 2008

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    This is intimidatingly clever! I love how the last couple stanzas seem to relate your personal experience to the experiment, lovely! The opening stanza is very rigorous and clever, just like yourself I find the relationship between the opening stanza, the second one, and the rest of the poem to be a bit vague, but I like this overall. You were right about that! (sorry there's too little I can critique here, you knew that would be the case!)


  • maralisa silver member
    November 22, 2008

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    ha ha I like your take onthe promt good luck in the contest maralisa


  • whiterabbit.
    November 22, 2008

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    I love this. It's well-written and it makes you think. I love poems like that. This reminds me of my psychology class I haven't heard about the phobia study with the monkeys but that's really interesting.
    Amazing write.


  • Joseph Hollis
    November 21, 2008

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    Wonderfully poetic and informative. I recall reading bits of Susan Mineka's findings on 'fear relevant' and 'fear irrelevant.' It's an interesting psychological study of our fear circuits. This was a very thought provoking write.Thanks for sharing.


  • sailor ptolema
    November 21, 2008
    Edit | Reply
    yea monkeys!


  • KayJay
    November 21, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I love learning and between your poem and AN's, I did learn something... beyond that, I also discovered what a terrific write this is Well done and best of luck.
    Ken

1 - 12 of 12