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This Poem was Submitted By: Robert L Tremblay On Date: 2004-01-28 04:33:51 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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NUCLEAR MADNESS (old acrostic)

Nothing is as insane as willed extinction Unless one includes unnecessary death Caused by man's greed and his lack of' compassion, Lacking since beginning, 'fore the birth of Seth; Each man/woman responsible for their fate And everyone conscious of final date, Requiring human presence at heaven's gate. Madness formed by inhumanity toward man As such, man, himself, is to blame for judgment Descending, beginning in Gulf of Oman. Nuclear apocalypse - man, not God, sent, Ending in one long, excruciating day, Silenced, forever, by man's cruel, wicked way. Such will be life...and death, in the month of May.

Additional Notes:
This acrostic poem was written about twenty years ago, in my "fomative" years. Bobby T.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Jordan Brendez Bandojo On Date: 2004-02-07 18:05:53
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.90698
Hi Bobby, It's nice to see again your piece 20 years ago! During your "formative" years? Interesting! So, you were into acrostic before already? I just learned this form last year. NUCLEAR and MADNESS seems to be a good pair in the realization of acrostic form because they contain the same number of letters (8 letters each) making two uniform stanzas. And of course, the theme is significant because nuclear thing is the talk of the world. I also noticed that you applied a unique rhyming pattern in both stanza. You have ABABBBB interesting rhymings scheme that doesn't seem to hinder the flow of ideas. I like the ideas here: "Each man/woman responsible for their fate And everyone conscious of final date, Requiring human presence at heaven's gate." It's not actually an idea nor a theory but a truth! Like the phrase "heaven's gate". Hope each one of us can enter it. This piece also reflects your true faith in God. The inclusion of proper nouns like Seth and Gulf of Oman enhances originality. The ideas you have here are life's significance. It takes a wise man to come with this. You are! Thanks for sharing, Bob! Congratulations in advance on your winning piece The Devil's Ballet D'Action with Cardinal Law. I'm glad to have it on top! Jordan

This Poem was Critiqued By: Mick Fraser On Date: 2004-01-28 19:32:11
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.18750
Hello Robert, Bobby, Bob; Before you give me a zero, let me explain. I have lived in more smoke-filled bars than your town has. The hippie days were a phase for me (you wanna speak of formative), but I had more of anything (be creative now)than you can imagine because they were there. Having said that, I had to comment on your work. Your sculputured stuff is way to sophistcated for this balding neurotic crybaby to comprehend. You are truly a great poet....I think. But what really touches me, is this stuff. The clear, precise, concise message. I have been a peacenik (it is amazing how they tied the commie term and lovers of peace together) for a fuck of a long time. I was expelled from school for wearing my hair too long...and now all these litle bastards shave their big melons....as they would say, what's up with that? though they might not spell it correctly. Your poem is nostalgic to me, so back to my point, that is why I am critiquing this beaut. ah.."willed extinction"...maybe the reason I drink too much beer, but the reality of nukes and the fear they manifest is understood. The expression is as relevant today as it was in your "salad days"...what a stupid idiom. "Greed" is the operative phrase. Humans are generally compassionate, but greed causes blindness to the untold suffering that can result and only after inflicting pain can the ignorant learn of their misguided ways. The veiled references to spirituality are lost on me. Fuck, it is only about respect, love and integrity that count...the very meek hide behind their almightys. I thank someone, I am not sure who yet, that 'W' decided only to push his personal greedy agenda by conventional (2003 conventional) weapons. If I were him (I must be stupider than him...I didn't go to Yale)I wouldn't have been so greedy and blown the whole mideast to smithereens. Oil is synonomous with many dollars, but it ain't gonna help him now. Man is God. Actually, maybe food is God having read far too much about what us Americans (North Americans) fear. We are so truly the masturbators of our own destiny. yawn...ty for posting a slice of your past. I hope to see more simple but meaningful posts. Mick

This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-01-28 16:35:09
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.46667
Hi Bobby T., This may have been written long ago but it could have been written yesterday as the message is the same now as then...."Nothing as insane as willed extinction" what a wise statement and it is so true. One wonders why we humans are so bound and determined to self destruct...God only knows we are trying hard enough...."Each man/woman responsible for their fate"...or so we thought. But in the present time when our young people are called upon to fight a war, that in some ways seems so senseless, their death is caused by another force...."Madness formed by inhumanity toward man." Oh..how true this is. I have a grandson that just came back from Iraq...Thank heavens as he and his wife are expecting a baby on Feb. 14th. I was so gald he came home safe but the down side of that is I have three other grandsons who are the right age if the draft becomes a reality. You have written a very important piece and one that should be read by many as I think you are echoing the sentiments of the masses. Will it help to put a new man in the White House? Who knows...we are on such a downward spiral now that it will take Devine intervention to pull us out. I have lived through many presidents but I don't think I have ever been as depressed with such a feeling of hoplessness as I am now. You are a gifted poet so don't ever stop writing. Peace....Marilyn

This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-01-28 13:59:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.33333
Dear Robert, I like acrostic poems. They are difficult to write and still keep the format and the message intact. You did a good job on this one. WMD's are madness, I pray that they are tightly controlled. Better yet, gotten rid of altogether. Sherri

This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-01-28 13:30:38
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.57377
Well Bobbie T this Acoustic of twenty yers ago sits perfectly fine in todays world of pain, suffering and destruction......your words bring forth images as one reads down, brings food for the soul which is to me far more important then the thoughts and images of destruction for man has set a path and he walks that very fine line and one day it will be too thin, he will cross over and not be able to return in time....thanks for posting , your mission has been a long journey and my friend it is not over yet.....God has blessed you and you must continue on....be ssfe in your travels this is a fine acoustic in form, words choices of expression and message. God Bless, Claire

This Poem was Critiqued By: Regis L Chapman On Date: 2004-01-28 11:04:28
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.30435
Wow. I am glad for the note, because I was beginning to think you had been listening to almost any popular music in the 80's, heavy metal in particular. It's a little bit funny that you were writing acrostic poems 20 years ago, when I had never even heard of them until this week.... Gives one perspective. A well thought out treatise on the nuclear problem. Brings up for me how I went to see the world's foremost anti-nuclear spokesperson and how she changed my ideas of this her name was Helen Caldicott, and I got to meet with her later. It was almost like meeting someone from another life. I cried and cried. For some reason, she pointed out to me in a way I had not previously thought possible. It was as though I myself was responsible for the Pandora's box that is nuclear weaponry. Not always pleasant thoughts for sure, but well done n the case of this poem. I couldn't think of a better way to summarize this top ala acrostic. Thanks, REEG!

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