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matters of policy

on matters of policy
we are less inclined to be liberal
or even generous.
which is not to suggest a lack of compassion
but merely to infer a belief
in the basic rightness of our position.

hail and bless,
hail and bless,
we frequently overstep our bounds
and sally forth to engage
in higher activities
than our proclivities
would tend to ascribe.

oh weary me not with vague assumptions
and deeply held prejudice,
I am of mind to weigh not
what at all,
you see,
the task is fruitless,

lets go instead to the beach
and dally in idle amusement over
cute wavelets and shimmery,
if slightly hazy skies.

Wander alone or in pairs
or small groups discussing

little matters of great consequence.


— weirdelf, Feb 10, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Sydney, Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: The Romantics, The Mersey Sound, The Beats and, of course, The Bard

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More from this author

Critiques

Mark

Mark

16 years 3 months ago

it is matter of policy

Vacation For all Must reoccur Often Or else ! -Bye buttons Mark "some things change, some things do not"
Seren

Seren

16 years 3 months ago

Shibby shibby coconut shibby

Shibby shibby coconut shibby shibby pie ... means its gooood :P wonderful moments as always my dear friend your a wizard of words and you maybe just inspired me ;)(huggles) fanfuckingtastic poem huni Yummy actually ... nothing like those moments they are treasures for the memory Love and big hugs Jayne-Chloe x x x
Seren

Seren

16 years 3 months ago

I thought of a better gift

I thought of a better gift lol when you come to visit hahahah :P but thats for me right lol well think of something for you Love and hugs Jayne-Chloe x x x x
R

raskin

16 years 3 months ago

First stanza is honest, true

First stanza is honest, true for most. I really like your final line, being at ease with the inconsequential and treating it with consequence. Made me smile. raskin
Geezer

Geezer

16 years 3 months ago

Policy makers...

Should always be relaxed and comfortable before taking on the grave matters of great consequence. Therefore I suggest we all adjourn to a sunny beach and wavelets lapping happily at our feet. A most signifigant and telling poem. Thank you Elf, ~ Gee
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

ta geezer.

Perhaps I should mention, for my American readers, liberal has a slightly different meaning to Aussies. As a proper noun it refers to the right wing of our political system, your Republicans. Un-capped it means "Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded." Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible
W

whitescatter

16 years 3 months ago

great

cool "i'm the kind of poet who likes to revolutionize poetry.trying to put the usual and unusual in the same mix.." i want to hear from you! read my works and drop your comments there..thanks.. Here... Jasfer Kerguelen "THE MOCKINGBIRD"
R

R.M.Shanmugam

16 years 3 months ago

the first stanza itself

the first stanza itself stands to manifest your wisdom. shan
I

IKnowNoBox

16 years 3 months ago

If what we saw..

bore upon what we wish to see exclusivly then most would be content and blind never to see a hazy sky how is it that people seek others position of policy, when 80 percent of the time the inquirer is simply set to debate their reply? I am reminded of a book I read recently " The Little Prince", Libral here in the states, is just people attempting to dole out the wealth of others, to make themselves appear generous. Got me think yet again Jess. In ink, Dabbler
Mark

Mark

16 years 3 months ago

Current stance seems

Our "first elected" was elected for the right reason now has lost his base and we just don't know wherethefuck to turn. Best thing would have been for him to do - as little as possible. On second reading even better for me, Jess. Mark "Do not ask me about poetry, I am just a poet"
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

ta, jasfer, shan, mark and

ta, jasfer, shan, mark and indi. I am bemused by the responses to this piece. Not sure what to make of it myself. Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 3 months ago

I like this thought Jess.

I like this thought Jess. Typical Aussie complacency - Best idea yet to 'Wander alone or in pairs or small groups discussing little matters of great consequence.' I'll join you next time I'm over east. We can discuss 'The Little Prince' that Dabbler mentions (although it is best read in the original French) and 'dally in idle amusement', Nice too meet you. Judy
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 3 months ago

Dear Jess-Elf

After reading your poem, I realized just how much I appreciate you and your talent. Always, Cat
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

ta Judyanne, dhruv, cat.

I'm starting to think this poem might actually be pretty good, if only because of the diversity of response. Thankyou. Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible
lou

lou

16 years 3 months ago

Utopia

Hi Jess, You seem to be talking about the way we should live and a better way to deal with points of view. Like style and the theme - Lou
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

it's so strange

this poem changes to me through the eyes of everyone who reads it. I am starting to like it more and more. Thank you, Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible
Esker

Esker

16 years 3 months ago

Beachs

the sand spit the edge be it stone or sand fine ground wide or short menaced with tide or breakers or the long long stride to dune grass always the wind or stillness and the water the great mystery present stretching away and comforting close we can scoop a handful of reflection draining stand in it immersed in joyful sun exotic waves or burn tinders bleached and watch the embers fly to the brother stars sister lights distant and calling
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

?

is this a comment? Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible
ID

Ink Dragon

16 years 3 months ago

Interesting thread here

Your poem has sparked a most interesting discussion, Jess. A Liberal here in Germany is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, a party that stands for defending capitalism and is right-wingish. Sadly, a significant part of my fellow countrymen voted for them in the last election. Now they are pushing for a decrease in social services, upping the price of everything, and advocating for lower wages to accomodate the company owners. We will see how well that will go down... Liked the poem, especially these lines: oh weary me not with vague assumptions and deeply held prejudice, I am of mind to weigh not what at all, though I initially thought it might read better as "not anything at all". Appreciate the tone, so weirdelf-ish ;) Yours, ~Nina
weirdelf

weirdelf

16 years 3 months ago

curiouser and curiouser and curiouser! It's time to fess up!

I wrote this, screen off, as a brain dump, the same way I wrote Rats http://www.neopoet.com/node/659 and The Drags http://www.neopoet.com/audio/25752 . Not a single conscious thought went into it! The word "liberal", poor battered wee thing, is so abused. Americans react with such a kneejerk reaction to its imbued meaning of "commie bastard who wants to steal all your money, let all the criminals out of gaol and hug trees" that they forget its real meaning- "Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded." But that thar is hi falutin book larnin stuff, probly writ by some dang liberal. In Aussie we use it with its correct meaning when un-capped but Liberal is the name of our right-wing party too. in the lines- I am of mind to weigh not what at all, what is more correctly spelled in context of 19c grammar as wot, but it just looked like bad spelling. I am really chuffed at how creative and open all my readers are! This poem worked beyond my wildest expectations even though to me it makes little sense. Cheers, Jess, reprehensibly irrepressible