Poetry

Remorse
by Earl Bergland, March 29, 1996

The judge the jury listen, scan for remorse
As the piercing vulture’s eye seeking death.
They clawed for clemency, angelic force.
“Repent, we shall barter thy trespass debt.”

Hear lambs, the vengeful rapture of schemed crimes,
The vile buffet of scurvy pirate tones.
Note how serpentine scripted plots viper minds.
Hoist contrite anchors, toast the skull and bones.

The regret of jail, not deed, heals wounds right.
For what addicted need do you core drill grief?
Hybrid pulpit judges warble contrite.
Lament, the blossom of jail’s budding leaf!

What fig the victim for remorse pander?
The crux of justice not for such slander.

notes:
The bleeding hearts in the first stanza want to find some remorse to use as a reason for shortening the jail term. The second stanza takes us to the planning stage of the crime where we listen in on the criminal talk. “Hear lambs” is referring to the bleeding hearts in first stanza. “Hoist contrite anchors” = There is no contriteness in their talk. In the third stanza the word “you” refers to judge and jury looking for criminal remorse. “Pulpit judges” = Judges talking like ministers suffering from confusion. “Lament” or criminal sorrow is produced by thoughts of jail, not by thoughts of any wrongdoing. Pander means sweet talk.

Reading poetry is more like doing a crossword puzzle than reading the comics. Some people actually prefer watching a football game without any remorse. This is a Shakespearean sonnet arranged in stanzas to provide clarity.

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Writing Poetry

Why Poetry? Poems are written by people who are too lazy to write a book. Most people who write poetry would do more good for the world by growing flowers or painting old barns. But we need to have patience because many young poets just need a few years of practicing as do musicians.
What are the three basic requirements for a quality poem?
A. The topic must be very important.
B. The poet must express thoughts with clarity.
C. The poem must create a dramatic impact (create an emotional feeling) in reader.
Is poetry a waste of time? That is a tough question. We can wonder the same thing about fishing or watching a football game. A poem provides the poet with a means of expressing ideas and feelings by a very personal means. Playing basket ball or cooking is also a means of personal expression.
What kind of an attitude should we have about reading poetry? Imagine sitting in a park on a spring day listening to your friend discuss ideas with you. Poets love waterfalls and country fried chicken.