Freedom Of Speech

Lawrence S. Pertillar 1947 (Connecticut)



Just because some are known,
To be poets who write...
The most outrageous,
And purposely ridiculous of poems.
Does not mean they can choose,
Other things to do.
Without making attempts to attract,
Hordes of fans seeking their autographs.
That is nothing more than speculation.

Especially when most known writers,
Are not out to prove a need to have...
Their egos stroked.
For attention to get hoping to be noticed.

'I don't believe it.
Look over there.'

'Where?'

'Up in that tree.
Naked as a jaybird.
Licking ice cream.
Off of that huge ice cream cone.
And waving!
Where are the police?'

'Who knows.
Since the town recently passed,
Changes to what had been...
A freedom of speech to express it?
All people now,
Considered crazy or not.
Are protected under the guidelines...
Of that new addendum,
Included in that ordinance.
As an entitlement and right,
To express and interpret...
What that freedom of speech,
To them means.'

'What in the World,
Has happened to our standards to value?
Does any of this make sense to you?'

'Today?
Yes.
However...
I do wonder why that guy keeps shouting,
I AM A POET. READ MY POEMS.'

'I know.
Although...
There is one thing he is doing.
And not getting paid a dime for it.
Look across the street.
At those people lining up for ice cream.
And coming out of that ice cream shop.
Licking ice cream,
Off of those huge cones.'

'Yeah.
Yeah I see that.'

'Where are you going?'

'To stand in line.
You want one?'

'Okay.
French Vanilla two scoops.
And...
If you don't mind.
Before you go and stand in line?
Asked that poet who he is.
And why...
He chose to climb that particular tree.
As butt naked as can be.
Smiling like  Cheshire cat.
As if to know,
Exactly what he is doing.
To lick ice cream.
And...
Not reciting one poem to have it believed,
Himself to be an actual poet?
He is either nuts.
Or something else is up in that tree.'

'But...
From my point of view.
He is as clever as an owl.
Attracting attention purposely.
And clear and obvious it is to me,
He knows more about...
How to market himself to get on TV.
Like that dude...
I forget his name.
That did that porno movie years ago?
Just to expose his writing abilities.
Remember when we were kids?
And our folks had said,
He was just another disgusting jerk.
With no mind to use in an empty head.'

'Yeah I do.
I remember hearing about that.
And what he did,
Was close to 50 years ago.
Not days, weeks or months.
But Fifty long to get over it years.
And as the rumor goes,
That movie is free on the internet.
Right this very day,
To download.
And...
Sold on Blu-ray discs.
And he has not seen a dime of it.
Yet.
From what I hear.
One thing is for sure though...
Whoever he is,
I bet he never suspected.
The way he has used his mind,
Is more these days respected.
He may today be broke.
Although today?
Being broke ain't no joke.
Maybe that dude up in that tree,
Is advertising more,
Than what these days...
People have grown to ignore,
Seeing far worse today on the streets.

'So right you are about that.
French Vanilla?'

'Yes!
And I'll pay you back.'

'When?'

'Come on. You know me.'

'That's why I asked you when!'







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Submitted by lpahtillah on January 22, 2022

Modified by lpahtillah on January 23, 2022

3:40 min read
14

Quick analysis:

Scheme abxcxdxxe xxxx fx gbHaix jxxfxxxxxbkxx xdd lMxic nnifxhxHx xo i pe lxQrpsxggonihQxkxg kdxggxgxxnxxtxt dounxxjvlxQxfvxnsxruwlwgxxxx ox Mx g x
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 3,125
Words 729
Stanzas 18
Stanza Lengths 9, 4, 2, 6, 13, 3, 5, 9, 2, 1, 2, 18, 15, 28, 2, 2, 1, 1

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