The Laureates (Poetry)
29th December 2013
Who are they?
— those guardians of our poetry-cum-prose —
that brotherhood of scribes so closely-knit
they praise each other for each new creation
published — thin sere pages rustling — the grit
of tumbled words smoothed into literacy —
some chanting voice blends every recipe.
The sentinels of hallowed library shelves
post graduates collect and bind — submit
acceptable translations — pass around
the prizes — the CV depends on it
and all the blurb that quotes and elevates
sends authors into high-blown altered states.
Some embrace their crafted penmanship —
won’t think to question all the adoration poured
find comfort, maybe, on those giddy heights
and feel the dubbing sword is well-deserved.
Exalted writings free or versified
hold true — but never more so
once they’ve died.
— those guardians of our poetry-cum-prose —
that brotherhood of scribes so closely-knit
they praise each other for each new creation
published — thin sere pages rustling — the grit
of tumbled words smoothed into literacy —
some chanting voice blends every recipe.
The sentinels of hallowed library shelves
post graduates collect and bind — submit
acceptable translations — pass around
the prizes — the CV depends on it
and all the blurb that quotes and elevates
sends authors into high-blown altered states.
Some embrace their crafted penmanship —
won’t think to question all the adoration poured
find comfort, maybe, on those giddy heights
and feel the dubbing sword is well-deserved.
Exalted writings free or versified
hold true — but never more so
once they’ve died.