Poems By Cognoscenti Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

Call it what you will, I say,
but do the postings here
represent the considered
work of poets or of those
who ignore the conventions
of literature in order to wallow
in emotional fervor?

Consider the postings
by the cognoscenti
who judge us lower
in the hierarchy

Do I resent their holier
than thou attitude?
You better believe I do!
In fact, you fucking
know I do, peasant
that I am!

Access the Forum
where they post
their scorn
of chombolones
like you and me -

Read the opinions
of insiders, as they
at one and the same time
express their disdain
for the clowns who post
their efforts at poetry -
you and me, that is,
while they sing to the heavens
mutual admiration
for each other's modest work,
lavishing praise on dreck!