The Real Reason For Saying “No”

Yes, it's doggerel. And yes, it's really lousy poetry. But still, it’s the true reason behind vaccine hesitancy.

Of Covid cures the net abounds.

Stupidity, that true astounds.

They make excuses, lie and wheedle.

Just because they fear…the needle.

 

But in the end all else is fake

No more than just excuse you make.

 

Cause it’s the shot that makes you diddle

Play pretend, like a kid who’s little

You fear the pain, and so you fiddle…

Now get in line…you Chicken Little.

Author's Note

If you check the web, there are hundreds of supposed “cures” and “preventions” for Covid, ranging from magic amulets to such absurdities as drinking camel piss. None of them work. But all of them are worn, snorted, ingested, or wiped on. So in the end, it’s the needle that scares them away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unproven_methods_against_COVID-19?fbclid=IwAR2cxu-pwOQ6c58rHKHde3YmV33yefLGH1xVLSnZJMOPS_wAyGjbqu7amoI

Reviews

[JayG]

Here's a funny one: The member, apennylate, who commented, below, once wrote decent poetry. in 2017, she used to get pages of comment for her work. But then, she was gone for seven years.

Obviously, something traumatic happened, because she returned with a slew of angry and disjointed poems that resembled the work of Bunthorn, the pretentious poet from Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta, Patience.

And because I, unaware of her trauma, dared point out the problems, she's declared war, and is pasting repetitive "reviews" of my work, never even reading it.

Here, she posts a "review" of a poem that's a screed, not a critique. Perhaps she's an anti-Vaxxer?

At the moment, she's deleted ALL of her latest offerings, so she recognizes the truth of the suggestions I made. But obviously, her condition is such that she feels she must "punish me" by lashing out like a child.

She seems a few pence short of a pound these days. I should block her, but running around gnashing her teeth and posting gives her something to do, I suppose.

[apennylate]

Also... Here, JayG...
Since you are so keen on enforcing "professional" critiques on writers who literally did not ask for them...
https://www.reddit.com/r/poetry_critics/?rdt=58594
That is a link to a reddit page with MANY avid critics, like yourself!
Plus, your behavior is not only encouraged, it is mandated to even post/join!
So why stir up all this trouble, if you TRULY aim only to help less fortunate writers than yourself...
Pages that writers actually ASK for your critiques exist! GO TO THEM!
It might just be one of the MOST PRODUCTIVE ways you could go about doing... Whatever it is you believe in your heart of hearts you are accomplishing by trolling new writers on a dead poetry site.
God bless, and cheers!

[Lisasview]

Hi there,
I have decided to read at least one of you writing each day..
This one made me laugh out loud..which is good, while we are all in such trying times.
I also read the About you..and found it quite interesting.. I too am a story teller.. verbally I like to tell stories..and throughout my poetry and writings there is always a story.. Some probably are not interested in story telling..which is such a shame..Thank you again for your amazing review..the support is wonderful..
Lisa

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Excuses are like...
Yes, and it is such a little shot, but can help to shorten the life of this disease. I am tired, as well, of the arguments against getting the shots or wearing masks in crowded places.
Enough is enough.
j.

[LJW]

The reason I should've said no to reading this is your own disclaimer " It's really lousy poetry".
You were indeed correct but why post something that even you feel has no redeeming quality?

[JayG]

In this case, because of the subject, and the fools who will, literally, drink camel piss to avoid getting a shot.

[andrew mitchell]

Okay Jay I’m confused you write of “ they make excuses” is this not similar to my write “ the maze that you created”. The emphasis on they as I do with you. I’m trying to understand the concept as I normally leave it up to the reader to interpret only because if you spell it out to the reader is it not too easy and revealing too much. Look forward to your answer. 😊

[JayG]

• "I normally leave it up to the reader to interpret only because if you spell it out to the reader is it not too easy and revealing too much."

But that reader has a vastly different background from yours. Their local word usage may not match, and of most important, as they read, they have not a clue of what your intent for the meaning is.

Want to leave it up to the reader to interpret? Okay, here’s the ultimate poem:

“The…”

The reader is fully in charge, and can take any meaning, any length, and any situation they care to, that the poem suggests. It’s not my work, though. 😆

The thing is, readers doesn’t come to us to be told they must write the poem, or story, themselves, based on our idea. They don’t need you or I for that. The reader wants to borrow your imagination. And guaranteed, if you give them a single line that lacks context, they will leave, because as they read it, the line is meaningless. Can we retroactively remove confusion? No. They want you to give them brilliant phrases they appreciate as they read, and, can use to make themself seem poetic; they want you to make them weep and laugh; They want you to do for them what they cannot do for themselves. But most of all, they want the act of reading to be an emotional, not an informational experience.

Who wants to read something that makes no sense—then sit back and spend time trying to give meaning to what they read?

Kurt Vonnegut put it well with: “Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.”

But most of all, remember that our goal, as E. L. Doctorow put it: “Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader. Not the fact that it’s raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.” And no way in hell can we do that with the book report writing skills we’re given in school.

Universities have degree programs in both fiction and poetry. So you have to figure that at least some of what those hard working students learn there is necessary. Right?


“It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.”
~Ernest Hemingway

[andrew mitchell]

Thank you Jay for replying, I get your drift.

[Abbe A]

people are just so self absorbed they fail to protect their own families let alone care about anyone else - it's selfish, and probably fear of the jab as you say

[Gee]

Lol, there are the needle fearers, the conspiracy theorists, those that think they are double hard so will never get it and the sensible folk that do get jabbed.
I'm double jabbed, an going for the booster and the flu jab, better to be safe than sorry !
Good morning

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Bravo Jay. It truly astounds me in this day and age the lengths of utter stupidity some people will go through to avoid taking a shot that could quite possibly save their life. They would rather poison themselves on horse medication and fish bowl cleaner than take a shot. They claim they don't know enough about the vaccine,and yet show very little curiosity to actually educate themselves on it by talking to actual accredited professionals. Education is power, stupidity is a choice. Thank you for your truthful poem.

[Christina Hill]

I have a deep appreciation for your message ! It is a quick shot ! I watch the news every night and wonder what people are waiting for. I could see your writing piece on a poster ! At the very least, please make fliers with your poem and send some to me. I will be glad to hang them up inside San Francisco. Again, it is a worthy message and I love it !

[Delmar Cooper]

I like doggerel, as well I should,considering. So naturally I liked your doggerel too. But, I don't necessarily agree that needle fear is the reason for "vaccine hesitation." I think some people just like camel piss.