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I post a most unusual shout out

for what Doctor Seuss
(born Theodor Seuss Geisel)
might immediately understand
(as if we communicated
qua telepathically) my description
with a smattering of words
and hands gesticulating
recognized as a thingamabob,
and ably drawn
with a quick few brush strokes
an illustration linkedin
characterized as his penchant
to populate his funny books
videlicet trademark signature caricature
with a talking head that doth bob
and once I instantly approved
his human rendition
after minor enhancement
affixing curly cue toenails
in place of cloven hoofs
without even removing mine red socks
his x-ray vision could espy
mine human toes, from the innermost
to the outermost,
named the Big Toe (or hallux),
Second Toe (or index toe),
Middle Toe, Fourth Toe (or ring toe),
and Little Toe (or pinky toe/baby toe),
whereat impressive digital
enhancements displayed onychogryphosis
also known as "ram's horn nails"
methought someone
maybe even an alien
from the outer limits
of the twilight zone,
where dark shadows accentuate distortion
snuck into our one bedroom apartment
and carefully removed my socks and shoes
before a camera photographed
what I immediately recognized
and after the wife looked over my shoulder,
she would premature ejaculate
"make no mistake, those curved, thickened,
and yellow-brown in color anatomically
gross looking poor excuse for toenails
prompting her to conclude
that's my husband's toenails,
which with a click of the mouse
broadcast message far and wide
throughout the webbed wide world
across the Internet yours truly didst lob
accessing virtual portals,
which open after reciting
what sounds like gibberish
courtesy ancient looking shaman,
who hails from long lineage
of Norwegian Bachelor farmers calling Punjab
their home away from home
for generations on end
and regularly making their oblations
subsequently able, eager, ready
to profess and proffer necessary dexterity
for delicately donning and
be-robed courtesy lab coat or white coat
after nibbling on powder milk biscuits
to give shy people the courage,
(or present a convincing façade
within their Potemkin Village)
and willing to accept medical assignment
with the air of professional persuasion
and ready to consult
with turban headed oracle of Delphi
to tackle a toe tilly
"having the character of till"
(boulder-clay) tubular job,
which unfortunately beyond the ken
of revered medicinal women or men,
which finds yours truly
turning attention to online search
undertaken with discretion,
which hopefully doth newt
draw the attention
of paparazzi and/or flash mob,
but essentially ideally directed
at embalmer if unable
to locate adroit podiatrist
(preferably this side of Perkiomen Valley),
who while engrossed with task at foot
can alleviate ingrown toenails
analogous to pincer
clamping down inducing throb
to heel mine sole fiercely
dug into handy dandy
blues clues palm of doctor,
and essentially allowing, enabling,
and providing snug as a bug in a rug
kick off videlicet final foot note
of my toe till lee skinny
(as a tuba and punt size) leg uh see
casting about for a brave soul
strongly advising her/him
to don rubber gloves
as she/he gingerly cradles
first one foot and then the other
scrutinizing what appears at first blush
as an impossible mission
to clip gnarly growing
twisted (analogous to
cork screw shaped) toe nails of mine
while applying heavy duty
anesthetizing mean looking needle
to mine numb skull
re: feeling treated as a scullion maid
so I do not freak out
espying sight for sore eyes
and gets knocked out smelling duff feet
before whipping out
top of the line artificially intelligent
grade A+ nail clippers,
which this urgent plea can spur
close to the size with what
quickly turn out to be
industrial pruning shears.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: i bought a sturdy nail nipper with sharp curved little claw like feet chore, but even after a shower a difficulty arose courtesy flab around the ab, which would be convenient to grab, but interfered with body in ways this ole '59 model refused to budge.

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: PA, USA

Favorite Poets: Robert Burns, Charles Dickens, Robert Frost, Matthew Scott Harris, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sylvia Plath, Gary Snyder, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

6 months 4 weeks ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem presents a sprawling, stream-of-consciousness narrative that intertwines humor, personal anecdote, and a playful homage to Dr. Seuss. The voice is conversational and richly detailed, with a dense layering of references and wordplay. However, the poem’s length and complexity create challenges for reader engagement and clarity.

Strengths: - The poem’s inventive language and unusual imagery (e.g., “curly cue toenails,” “onychogryphosis” as “ram’s horn nails”) provide vivid, memorable moments. - The playful invocation of Dr. Seuss’s style and the blending of whimsical with medical terminology is an intriguing juxtaposition. - The use of extended metaphor and allusion (e.g., “turban headed oracle of Delphi,” “Potemkin Village”) adds depth and a quirky erudition.

Areas for improvement: 1. **Structure and Pacing:** The poem reads as one long stanza without breaks, which can overwhelm readers. Consider dividing it into stanzas or sections to create natural pauses and highlight shifts in tone or subject. 2. **Focus and Coherence:** The poem meanders through many ideas and images, sometimes losing a clear narrative thread. Clarifying the central theme—whether it’s the humorous struggle with toenail care, the imagined dialogue with Dr. Seuss, or the broader metaphor—would strengthen impact. 3. **Line Length and Rhythm:** Many lines are very long and dense, making it difficult to find a rhythmic flow. Shorter lines or varied line lengths could enhance readability and musicality. 4. **Syntax and Word Choice:** Some phrases feel overly convoluted or archaic (e.g., “videlicet,” “doth bob,” “toe tilly”), which may alienate readers. Simplifying language in places or balancing archaic with contemporary diction could improve accessibility. 5. **Imagery and Clarity:** While rich in detail, some images are obscure or mixed (e.g., “x-ray vision could espy mine human toes” vs. “alien from the outer limits”). Sharpening these images or grounding them more clearly in the poem’s emotional core would help readers connect.

Overall, the poem’s ambition and wit are evident, but refining its form and focus would enhance its communicative power and reader engagement.

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