Saturday, November 26, 2022

Hurrah

CLICK HERE TO HEAR AUTHOR READ


Some people are born

with the wrong name

to the wrong parents

in the wrong home 

in the wrong town.


Some people say

the wrong things

to the wrong people

at the wrong times

for the wrong reasons.


Some people see 

the wrong things happen

to the wrong people

at the wrong time

for the wrong reasons.


Some people hear 

the wrong things about 

the wrong people 

at the wrong time

in the wrong places.


Some people believe

in the wrong God 

and the wrong prophet

in the wrong religion 

with the wrong books.


The words come to me

from somewhere

(I don't know where)

and I write them down

right or wrong.


I've made my deal

with my destiny 

sing my song

right or wrong

Hurrah.

5 comments:

Ken Stollon said...

My wife complains whenever I use too much repetition in a poem. She says it's lazy, and I should be able to come up with another way of saying it instead of saying the same thing again. Anyway, that's my wife; you have your own wife that you can count on to be your critic. You don't need my wife for that. And anyway, I have miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.

On first reading I thought this was a serious poem about being born at the wrong time in the wrong place (like, for example, anywhere in Europe in the 1930s). And it could be that. But on a second reading (with you doing the reading, which I love!), I'm sensing that this poem is funny. All the repetition is humorous. And maybe it's a poem for the shlemazels of the world. The "Hurrah" at the end (and in the title) seals the deal. Hurrahs are almost always ironic.

It could also be a poem about writing poetry. The words come to you; you record them. It's what it is; anyone who doesn't like it can take a hike. Anyone who doesn't like it can take a hike.

Glen said...

I completely agree with your wife. Usually. And she may be wrong or right. Or I may be wrong or right. Or we both may be wrong or right. And I think you are right (or wrong) too! But here’s a little secret. I had you in mind specifically with this one. Thought maybe you’d see something in the words that sounded familiar. I’m wonder if I should reveal it…

Ken Stollon said...

Please tell me!!!!

Ken Stollon said...

OH ... Bukowski???

Glen said...

Almost. Your good buddy Bob. Some of it comes almost verbatim from an interview he gave in 2004. I riffed on it.