I hate "isms" and "ists". We live in a world where we are constantly defining each other as black or white, Hindu or Christian, old or middle-aged, man or woman,... etc... etc and everything between and beyond. The series of poems that appear on this page were composed at the moment of the feeling and they have been transcribed without correction or modification to preserve the feelings and methods that I was experiencing then and there. They are experimental and a couple of them are quite bad. One of them has been removed because it really was just terrible, but one from seventeen is a pretty good record.
"Ists" - A poetic saga by John
For those who think that there are better ways…
1.
I have to be a this or that
"Ists" confine me to A or B
I cannot see a bliss, just rats
It forces me to a category
I cannot be an omnivore now
Murderer or veggie are my choice of shackle
I cannot be green if I eat a cow
Much order required and views to be tackled
To be two things at once is no longer ok
Forced options replace true democracy
To do as one thinks is natural: No way
Divisions in face, an hypocrisy
Concerning the mind with one's own well being
Does more than seeking other's ill will
On yearning to meddle with fun upon seeing
Is surely a sign of one's distaste for thrill
2.
Ist me if you dare to define
My ists are there but they do not shine
These ists lack truth or import to me
So why refine that which is not a care
No concern, yourself with worthless words
When truly heard truths are so often spurned
In quests for what is seen as wrong
So long inferred our own troubles are
Find what's wrong with ists and let it be
Seek happiness and pros, sing song of reverie
Relieve the soul in monumental promise lived
Believe in good and fling ills which others gave away
The thought in living hate and seeking only bad
Saddens me in oh so bleak and short a method
It causes me to philosophise in as neutral as can be done
About why you look for pain, when all it can bring is the same
3.
No single man ever erected a bridge of notable size
Even Brunel required many luminous jackets
Health and safety
No isolated incidents allowed
Hold hands when you cross the road
Built and built again for you
(s) is used but "yous" sounds like a bad New York
I'm in London
Same thing I guess
I know grey when I see stone and both are both
Full of life in never lived
Together
Sisters lost after a rowdy Boston BYOB
Reunited by Jerry Springer
Families appear like Hell but not really any different
Just turned up the volume
So all can hear
Emotions are never meant for one alone
As if one never socialised with eight and nine
Though he/she/it saw ten every other weekend
But only because he shared custody with zero
Now zero's a nobody
Its like one, but after a long time
They are both the same
Negativity never solved any problems you know
Addition never divided like subtraction
If only we appreciated all cryptic items, we
That is to say us
Would multiply (not grubby)
But whole
4.
Chalky
Cliffs of Dover define me
So many ways the worse for ware
Erosion
I can ride all the rides
Too
Two foot waves of wheat
A reflection of my crown
Perhaps too bulbous
Naturally
Baggy genes they say hides what's "wrong"
If I listen to you
This is all
This is me
5.
Is a cow a cow before you brand it?
Was I me without my name?
Does your life reflect your achievements,
If all you do is look at me?
If I don't believe in myself can I still be here?
Would there be time without a clock?
You wouldn't get old if you killed all the young;
I wonder when you will try this?
Is something illegal without a law?
Can there be a story without an end?
You wouldn't have any enemies:
If only you just stopped judging your friends.
6.
Onyx more than carbon coal
Compliment?
If you think yes…
Answers
Lost in definitions
Big words make opinions matter
Like heavy thought, but not always better
Hardly working
No Blueberries inside the muffin
Then you have a choice
Right?
No.
If the batter is not mixed
It separates
Recipe for disaster
7.
Allow me some objective sincerity
In my sincere objectification that is
Said the sceptic who believes in scepticism
True Nihilist
I must be one
Or the other
Not allowed to be the other-one
8.
I cannot understand you hating me
I hate me, but I can see
Me for me, only partially for you
For the merest piece of cake
Less makes it easier to embitter you
A little to hate will see you through
Few see me true, you be free to view me
So?
Do I take the cake?
9.
I wrote a poem that started off "Red and Blue" and it went on about how football teams are a really obvious metaphor for what all this is about but I think its really crap (as opposed to some of the regular crap that I am leaving in to pad this out and make it seem more deep) so its cut. A late night decision. But I think it's the right one. It really is really, really crap.
10.
See me
Not the pale skin
Never the young man
No more a man of God or money
See me
Blood is thicker than lemonade and cola
True identity
Humanity
11.
Soul-Man flies
Through thick and hairy clouds
Obstructions past and future fall
Before him
There was painful sex
He sees himself
The one true God
Only
Then can be born another
Bigger, older, truer
Soul-Man flies
12.
What make you of me I ask
But break I do from such a task
Not meant to change to suit the hole
Just sent to frame and break the mould
All green and rotten these old ideas
I seem to have forgotten all your fears and tears
No need to cheer me with your past tape
I freed me, technology of mind brings new red cape
13.
Mr Woodsworth tell me how's the milk?
Cultivated so Mrs Sky can have her silk
Moustache Freddy tell me who's the man?
I'm sorry that the devil used you in his plans
Examples both of life's power in heaven
These men add yeast to thought unleavened
Evolution in the blinking eye confirmed
Lessons finish when life's last is learnt
More like you please send up or down
'til every shepherd by his flock is found
14.
What is the point?
I'll be as blunt as a poet ought
Effort is the easy part
No finish line though
Take Libra
Only balanced one in twelve
No soul, smile, sword or life
Is that it?
The only weigh - the only way?
The perfect smile has no lips or eyes?
I want to believe in no
But yes is easier
Control through freedom
A Dutch hooker
But…
15.
Forget the leafless Ducados translation
No meaning left
Brother (Not Brother) is not your brother
Unless I am too
But Alternative
Because of snow and summer cloud
And Rolling paper (un-fore filled)
I can never be
Really (insert "?" if you want)
16.
Why do what I do when you won't?
?????
Simplicity of love lost in hate's underground network
But you're ok (no explanation or exclamation)
You won't read, just see
And dismiss
Ideas about a revolution in liberation
First one for years
Maybe ever
But tell your baby
"Them and us" and continue to watch your back
Easier right?
Live in fear: be relaxed (synonymous)
Fuck it
17.
Broken am I
Way wrong round
Wall of spikes
Too big for me
No point in making sound
Headache made mistake
A pisstake you all are
Forgotten love
Got me lost
From happiness I'm far
Collapse suspended
Pending inspection, boss
There is some hope
I'll try again
But right now I'm at a loss
18.
Keep up the fight and keep alive the light
The can be only one and we are all him
We are all her too because we are
Synonymous
Dave, Kim, Johnny, Linda, Justin, Shola
Kenneth, Malik, Uri, Jenny, Ruth, Tracy
Lucy, Tony, Toni, Ali, Johanna, Isabella
Name
One of these are all of these and more
Believe in us not me or you and we will
Architects of our own future now
Responsible
Love's cliche is truth unparalleled
Together we stand and never we will fall
Hope springs eternal and believe
Truth .