11 Responses

1. KT
   June 4th, 2006 at 5:40 am

   Dude, why haven’t you gone pro yet?! The world needs your genius! I think you’ve captured something here that’s really important in terms of where the world is heading today. Good for you for being so open and honest.

2. The Literary Review
   June 4th, 2006 at 6:34 am

   Saw your poem and am interested in reviewing it, with your permission, in the academic journal for which I am the editor. Knowing that all my competitors will soon be following suit, I wondered if you’d favour me with some inside info as to what you’re trying to express.

   I’m intrigued by the capitalised ‘M’ in the second line. Are you speaking on behalf of God? Is the poem prophetic in that sense? I’m guessing ‘coffee’ is a metaphor for the frivolity of the west and the economic exploitation of the third world, and thus that your poem expresses God’s sorrow at this (the rain obviously symbolising tears; ‘drowning the town’ potentially alluding to the Genesis flood, i.e. a further indication of God’s wrath, and a reminder of the coming judgement).

   I think you’re getting into dangerous territory by suggesting that God Himself is becoming corrupted by the sinfulness of the West (’turning My insides brown’); or perhaps the coffee is also symbolic on another level of the world’s sinfulness generally (an alternative image to the traditional ‘blood’), and thus the phrase could also be an incarnation reference - i.e. sin making it necessary for God to take on human form.

   I think this is a very courageous poem, that really engages with issues that are both contemporary and timeless. Looking forward to your comments (and others’).

   Best regards,
   Candice B. Fureal
   The Literary Review, Hoaxton University

3. Christina
   June 4th, 2006 at 12:08 pm

   Fraser: the master of the surreal. You beat Matt P hands down with this one

4. Greg
   June 5th, 2006 at 2:29 am

   Hahaha that’s brilliant… Candice B. Fureal… LOL

5. Fraser
   June 5th, 2006 at 2:40 am

   Thank you for your kind and insightful comments, Ms. Fureal. You’ve unearthed gems of meaning from the strata of my simple verse that even I had not realised existed. I’m more than happy to provide some background on my poem - as the adage goes, “Flattery will get you everywhere”.

   The capitalised ‘M’ in the second line was - I thought - merely a typographical error; however, I’ve begun to suspect that my subconscious mind may have allowed it to go unnoticed for the very reason you put forth - though, at the time of writing, I didn’t think of the poem as being from God’s viewpoint, I can see how perfectly it fits with my thoughts on various matters I’ve been considering of late - fair trade; the tyranny of wealth; the possibility of God’s wrath falling on the Western church if we do not take real steps back towards an authentic, earthy, unselfish faith… and so on.

   I’m not so sure about claims that my verse might be somewhat prophetic - I’m a poet, and don’t pretend to be a prophet, except in the very general sense that my writing does occasionally call belivers back to (what I suppose to be) the general mandate of the church; though even this is not necessarily my first intention when I sit down to write, as outlined above.

   In summary, this little verse reveals the issues that weigh on my heart and mind, and I find this surprising - you might be rather shocked to hear that the verse in question is one of my more light-hearted; indeed, that I had been aiming to capture a feeling of frivolity! Thanks to your reasoned and balanced critique I have gained a window into my own soul, and for that I am more than grateful. You most certainly have my permission to review the poem, and any others in my portfolio you may wish to consider.

   Warm regards,
   Fraser Dron

6. The Literary Review
   June 5th, 2006 at 6:41 am

   Dear Mr. Dron,

   I am writing on behalf of the editors’ board for The Literary Review. I understand that you have been in receipt of correspondence from my former colleague, Ms. Fureal, with regard to the proposed publication of the poem What I Have to Say Today, I Shall Say in Verse.

   Please be informed that, following disputes with the board over your highly contentious and dangerous work, Ms. Fureal has been stood down as chief editor of this journal. Any views expressed in her correspondence no longer represent the official views of this board.

   The board feels that your poem is subversive, seditious and hostile to the interests of American progress, and therefore we cannot countenance its publication in an American journal. We do not question your artistic ability, nor your right (within certain limits), as a non-American, to hold radical opinions. However, we reserve the right to refuse to be a party to the spread of dangerous ideas.

   I would like to personally encourage you to continue developing your talent as a poet, but I must forcefully suggest that you attempt no further verbal attacks upon our great nation, as these may be taken as an act of war.

   I have been empowered to express the board’s interest in reviewing such other works from your portfolio as may be considered suitable. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience you may have suffered as a result of Ms. Fureal’s unauthorised actions.

   Yours sincerely,
   Ray C. Flagg
   Provisional Chief Editor
   The Literary Review, Hoaxton University

7. Fraser
   June 5th, 2006 at 11:12 am

   Shouldn’t you be writing essays? :p

8. The Literary Review
   June 5th, 2006 at 11:47 am

   yourself

9. Matthew P
   June 6th, 2006 at 8:16 am

   I’m surreal?

   surreal (adj): having a strange dreamlike irrational quality

   …come to think of it, that term does seem disturbingly apt.

   Cool poem by the way. May I suggest that you avoid working for the people at Hoaxton though, I haven’t received my first paycheck from them yet, despite sending them my bank account details long ago.

10. Christina
    June 7th, 2006 at 7:44 am

    He he he Katherine = oh most masterful satirist. Who knew stressing over a large amount of essays could bring such talent to the surface, eh? Noice

11. dorkus maximus
    June 11th, 2006 at 9:49 am

    fraser… i dont think thats coffee…. i think thats poo

    just kidding.

    coffee doesn’t stain, right?

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