This Poem was Submitted By: James C. Horak On Date: 2006-01-14 06:44:15 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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The Poorly Dressed

He is not dressed well,    Tattering is his ode to the world. A world that wants something of itself    Thrown back into its face newly. The hope, even sometimes, its death knoll loss.    Tomorrow's limited life celebrity       Reduced to fashion statement. (I suspect his tattering to have something to do with this.) He also comes and goes (I could say unmindful of his clothes...  but I'm not here to poem that way.) Unnoticed in his intention to the point of volatility. You see, when he's good it doesn't matter,     Not one whit, it doesn't matter at all. His sleeves don't have to meet where they fall (oops.) He's a poet and that IS the matter.

Copyright © January 2006 James C. Horak


This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas H. Smihula On Date: 2006-02-07 08:36:50
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.60526
James this was something that started out well for at least this reader but for some reason the last two verses seemed to lose my train of thought for I could not see the poorly dressed. Just a thought. Thanks for sharing.


This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2006-01-31 20:29:15
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.25000
James, Being a poet, being whatever, if the heart is in it, what else matter? Poetry is brushing your view of the world on a piece of paper as an artist paints his view on canvas. Sometimes in a fever, over filled with ideas. The clothes don't make the man, his integrity is the man! I like wearing my beloved tattered shirts. Beyond the vision lies reality. I like this idea....the truth you speak! Most engaging.... dellena
This Poem was Critiqued By: Gerard Andrew Geiger On Date: 2006-01-28 20:28:42
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.60000
Dear James; This is a very engaging work. The poet is seen as not dressed well, not meeting someone's perception of appropriate dress in poetics. Rhyming the first two lines in the third stanza and apologizing not here to poem that way. Going on with the explanation that the delivery of good poetry doesn't have to conform to any rhyming scheme and rhyming the second and third lines of the fourth stanza (oops!) This is a very entertaining device....bringing a slapstick burlesque-like quality in the delivery of this poem. Imaginative,unique, new to me... I enjoyed it tremendously. Thanks for sharing your artistry... I cannot add anything to improve your work. Thanks for the opportunity to read this poem. Your friend, Gerard
This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2006-01-15 18:08:22
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
PQ mag's centerfold?
This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2006-01-15 12:07:27
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.25000
Are you meaning to say that all poets must be poorly dressed? Or does that matter? I do come and go (don't we all?).I would say the best line is the one aboutfff volatility. We as poets do tend to that towards one another but is the general non poetic culture aware of this if you get my drift. Guess you got me thinking here. I see some humour here as well.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Terry A On Date: 2006-01-14 19:23:00
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
I have often thought, that the measure of the poet, is in the poem. No matter the discussions and the critiques, on TPL; the thing that matters is the poem. It is the essence of the man or woman. And is what "dresses", the efforts here. What does the poet wear? Language- imagery, simile, metaphor, all poetic devise. The wardrobe is the vocabulary and what is done with it. "Reduced to fashion statement"; harkens more to the modern universities and colleges that have dutifully taken upon themselves to define poetry and what might get grants. Now finding the most creative on the internet fringes, (like TPL)allowing a new poetry to take root, perhaps a poetry that might learn to speak to the real hearts and minds of people. Yes, poetry can be dangerous, and should be; anytime technology MUST be tempered by ethical consideration; poets have to become the voice of mind and soul. Now, I have taken this poem as largely metaphoric, considering its more mundane interpretation as the one least meant by you. Being as I'm old enough to realize beneath the veneer of what people wear, and don't seem to be much of a fashion statement myself...though I have good taste, I missed that period where women dressed to catch prizes, (thankfully, I guess(?).) There is something to be said for "staying under the radar"; clothes do not determine a noble man or woman; a poet is enriched only by his or her words. Time tells best of all. The poem poetically (and in this one the meaning interests me most of all), is colloquial and simple. Its meanings are straight-forward, its points made without confusion. But it is a poem that waits for another poem to justify itself- WHEN he's good, it doesn't matter. Terry
This Poem was Critiqued By: DeniMari Z. On Date: 2006-01-14 16:49:33
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
Dear James, According to the Bible, we're not worry about what we wear, but clearly society doesn't agree. Your poem is an exception to this, so what? Really, and you've said so with "Reduced to fashion statement." I like how you've pointed out "Reduced" - because that's exactly what it is. Frivolous spending, conforming to others standards, the idea that the higher the price the better is what we've been brainwashed into believing. So, the person under the $500.00 suit, is still the same person, under the $150.00 suit - right? I got a lot out of this read. I realize that I am not materialistic, nor care about what someone is wearing it's all about the person inside, whether a poet, a doctor or a rock star. Nice job with this. sincerely, Denimari
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2006-01-14 13:36:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
JCH. I think you did some great things with the dress metaphor. A traditional metaphor (Sartor Resartus, and I'm thinking all those clothing references in King Lear), you can draw on its richness and make it work because of the way you manipulate it. For example, this line is GREAT: Tattering is his ode to the world. Although, I read it differently (a bit) when i first read it - I realize that now that I copied and pasted it here. I originally read it, "Tattering his ode to the world," which I think would be an amazing use of "tattering" as a verb. But the "tattering," even in adjectival form here - though I can see why i read it the way i did, because of your inversion in structure, you MADE me read it as a verb; wonderful - is very good. I will bring the same criticism to this one I voiced in my most recent critique of one of yours: too much declamation, too much "commentary." Though the criticism would be more muted here. A move forward, i think. And that wonderful "tattering" line is a pledge of things to come. I would feel very good about this one, if I were you. Love that little "oops" at the end of that "fall" line. Charming. And "I suspect his tattering to have something to do with this." Damn straight. :) Mark Mark
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