Which Is To Say

[Philosophy Now]

by Scott F. Parker

https://philosophynow.org/issues/127/Which_Is_To_Say

[-1-]

Which is to say says nothing.

That's the problem with modern verse. Editors accept work where the authors' intentions and motivation to write are so personal and individual, that they don't come across at all to the reader of the poem.

I've seen this literally dozens of times in the London Poets' Society presentations.

[A_Seagull]

Which is to say says nothing.

That's the problem with modern verse. Editors accept work where the authors' intentions and motivation to write are so personal and individual, that they don't come across at all to the reader of the poem.

I've seen this literally dozens of times in the London Poets' Society presentations.

Have you thought of writing some poetry?

[-1-]

Which is to say says nothing.

That's the problem with modern verse. Editors accept work where the authors' intentions and motivation to write are so personal and individual, that they don't come across at all to the reader of the poem.

I've seen this literally dozens of times in the London Poets' Society presentations.

Have you thought of writing some poetry?

I've written poetry, but it's not very good. It is hard to write good poems. Incredibly hard. It is deceptive, because it is easy to write poetry.

[A_Seagull]

Which is to say says nothing.

That's the problem with modern verse. Editors accept work where the authors' intentions and motivation to write are so personal and individual, that they don't come across at all to the reader of the poem.

I've seen this literally dozens of times in the London Poets' Society presentations.

Have you thought of writing some poetry?

I've written poetry, but it's not very good. It is hard to write good poems. Incredibly hard. It is deceptive, because it is easy to write poetry.

I only really like limericks.

They have a certain sort of similarity to syllogisms.

So compare for example:

All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore Socrates is mortal.

and

There was an old man from Greece
Who wanted to marry his niece.
But she said: "You are mortal
And smell pretty awful
So go away or I'll call the police!"

[-1-]

All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore Socrates is mortal.

and

There was an old man from Greece
Who wanted to marry his niece.
But she said: "You are mortal
And smell pretty awful
So go away or I'll call the police!"

You can take the man out of Greece
But you can't take the Greece out of the man. (Largely rests on pronunciation for full effect.)

There was a young man from Greece
Who would not sign his name on a lease
The rent was too high
He finally died
In a boat wreck near Chalaise.

There was a lady from Greece
Whose favourite movie was Grease
She wore her skirt high,
Up to her thigh,
And shaved her mustache with ease.

There was a young cop from Greece
Who arrested many with a piece
He shot no one,
He always won,
He was a just cop of peace.

There was a young priest from Greece
Who performed his sermons with a hiss
And a boo from the crowd,
His speech was a dowd,
After the mass he ate peas.

[Dalek Prime]

You can take the man out of Greece
But you can't take the Greece out of the man. (Largely rests on pronunciation for full effect.)

You can't take the Greek out of the other man, at any rate.

[A_Seagull]

All men are mortal
Socrates is a man
Therefore Socrates is mortal.

and

There was an old man from Greece
Who wanted to marry his niece.
But she said: "You are mortal
And smell pretty awful
So go away or I'll call the police!"

You can take the man out of Greece
But you can't take the Greece out of the man. (Largely rests on pronunciation for full effect.)

There was a young man from Greece
Who would not sign his name on a lease
The rent was too high
He finally died
In a boat wreck near Chalaise.

There was a lady from Greece
Whose favourite movie was Grease
She wore her skirt high,
Up to her thigh,
And shaved her mustache with ease.

There was a young cop from Greece
Who arrested many with a piece
He shot no one,
He always won,
He was a just cop of peace.

There was a young priest from Greece
Who performed his sermons with a hiss
And a boo from the crowd,
His speech was a dowd,
After the mass he ate peas.

You are a real poet

[Dubious]

by Scott F. Parker

https://philosophynow.org/issues/127/Which_Is_To_Say

This doesn't even conform to awful poetry which isn't poetry to begin with. Write a piece of verbal shit; if it barely qualifies as prose call it poetry instead.