Translation
A response to Christina Ward’s Poetry is Not Your Therapist
Perhaps you’re considering poetry-
a valiant goal, I trust,
before you begin, we’ll just let you in
on the things that aren’t Art to us.
Maybe you’re feeling depression,
anxiety’s making a fuss-
leave it at home, you suffer alone,
that just isn’t Art to us.
Or maybe you’re feeling enamored
now that’s something we could discuss-
just try not to make a spelling mistake
that just isn’t Art to us.
Now let’s say you try streaming consciousness,
the thoughts that you think on the bus-
No rhythm or rhyme? Your poem’s a crime!
that just isn’t Art to us.
And when you try drafting your artwork,
remembering your reader’s a must-
they don’t want to hear your unprocessed fear
that just isn’t Art to us.
To break with convention,
I’d just like to mention
your trauma, your pain,
emotional tension,
your laughter, your joy,
your misapprehension,
these all have no place
at our Artist’s convention.
And here’s a request
for the future and present:
Please prune your emotion
and make it more pleasant.
I’m very poetic
so I’ll take the time
to alter your artwork
until it’s like mine.
Of course, these are all simply guidelines
you can write what you want, but just
don’t call it a poem, we write ’em and know ‘em
your art isn’t Art to us.
