The set of people who are linguists and the set of people who are poets have always had some overlap. Even today many linguists make valiant attempts at poetry.
What follows is my valiant attempt. Poetry has never been something that came naturally to me, but it's always been something I've found fascinating - and it can be therapeutic to contrast the clear, straightforward writing expected of academics with something a little different.
Asleep/Awake
in times of old
in times like these
I would have had to train my mind to be quiet.
the "old sorcerers" would have helped teach me the complete awareness required.
but in "times of new"
I don't have time to do
that.
So I am in constant search of media input
to affect my mental output
and direct my thought.
I spent so many hours as a child
Wishing I had the power to stop Time
Pause the world and give myself the extra seconds necessary for Understanding.
but in times of old
I could have learned as a child
That I have the power to stop Time
but first
I must have the Understanding.
I'M DONE WITH JOHN MAYER
I defended you once.
I have long said that your song was the unfortunate anthem of an apathetic generation
waiting on the world to change
but willing to do no - thing
to change it
But unfortunately for us, there are people still willing to change this world
BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, those people are not interested in peace
BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, The people who could say something about it
ARE TOO DAMN DEPRESSED TO SAY WORD ONE
So, John Mayer, who
will never read this -
That is why I'm done
With you
AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN
watching the best minds of our generation
DESTROYING THEMSELVES WITH MADNESS
Trying to say we were never warned
a generation that doesn't GET IT
hey, you don't know what it is?
More important things to do...
a generation
who might know why the caged bird sings
but don't know why Bird squeals
a generation
who doesn't know the meaning of cool
and gets surprised when older folk use it
a generation
consumed by fear
plagued by ignorance
manipulated into consumption
no choice!
might as well!
what else is there to do?
who cares anyway? do you?
no biggy.............
in the long run
which is more fun?
AND IN A TIME WHEN EVERYONE IS IN A BAND
or reading poetry or dedicating letters
or running art shows
or writing notes on facebook
how can we say that art shouldn't or can't change the world?
how can we say that art gratia artis is the way to go?
how can we stay here
biding our time
BUT WE ALL SAY WE WANT A REVOLUTION -
or really, to be remembered as revolutionaries
when the people who reach that are often unwilling.