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from spidervein Sunday, February 06, 2005 - 03:27 (Agree/Disagree?) To those who find this poem "morbid" or "tasteless"... When will we ever be comfortable enough with ourselves to openly discuss the atrocities that we were forced to endure? How can a poem that exposes the skeletons from our closets and vents the feelings that our pasts have left rotting inside of us be considered "morbid" or "tasteless" when compared with the acts that were committed upon us? How much longer must we remain mute, silenced by the shackles of a decency that we were never privy to? When innocence has been stolen, one can not expect the robbed to act (or speak) innocently. (reply to this comment)

from Benz Thursday, October 16, 2003 - 21:09 (Agree/Disagree?) I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks both Anthony & Sarafina should open an "Art" gallery directed exclusively and entirely at people who are gullible, tasteless and to those severely disinclined to be artistic in any constructive form. That poem is pure morbidity not art! – Then again who would have called “Rap” music 70 years ago. (reply to this comment)

From sarafina Saturday, October 18, 2003, 18:01 (Agree/Disagree?) Well, to be honest you may be right. Actually someone else told me that I had bad taste in poetry before. Like I said before I'm not qualified to make an official comment on the quality of a poem so I guess next time I'll leave that up too all the professionals on here.(reply to this comment)

From Anthony Thursday, October 16, 2003, 21:45 (Agree/Disagree?) Bad taste is one thing, though essentially “good” and “bad” are highly subjective. But the word “tasteless” does not contain this as a part of its meaning in accordance with the nature of its logical quality of being necessary. So, you may say that my ostensible taste for the morbid is a bad one, or, is in bad taste, and I may agree with you, depending on my current disposition and diet, but if I have bad taste, it is taste nonetheless, and thus, isn’t “tasteless.” (reply to this comment)

From Jules Thursday, October 16, 2003, 23:01 (Agree/Disagree?) Personally I disagree with you Benz, art is neither in good taste or bad taste. Those terms are highly subjective. Art is a reflection and expression of our own humanity and of who we are. It should be about reality, not our own comfort levels. However, to dramatise something so deeply personal to a fellow survivor seems wrong on many levels. Something that I personally believe in strongly is that we must own our own story. When other people, be it the media or FGs or our peers, retell, dramatise, or take ownership of something that is our own experience, it cheapens it and can make you feel reviolated. I know this from personal experience. Just my opinon. (reply to this comment)

From Joe H Tuesday, November 04, 2003, 22:48 (Agree/Disagree?) Yeah, I'm with Jules here. Write about your own abuse stories Anthony!(reply to this comment)

From banal_commentator Saturday, November 22, 2003, 00:35 (Agree/Disagree?) Its a free country! Anthony can write about whatever he damn well pleases. If art was restricted to ones own experiences we'd be missing out on a lot of great work. Writers/artists often possess a great imagination and the ability to emphathize and because of their verbal skills or artistic mindframe they can express things that the victim or subject can not. Gross story+observing writer=edgy art. On the other hand, considering the theme of this website I can see how posting a poem of that nature could be a bit much for some. (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 15:00 (Agree/Disagree?) "It should be about reality and not our own comfort levels." Thanks for that Jules. its great to revel in the supposed "beautiful", but the fact of the matter is that life is messy and not everyone lives in the circle of hapiness. I appreciate those that (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 14:59 (Agree/Disagree?) "It should be about reality and not our own comfort levels." Thanks for that Jules. its great to revel in the supposed "beautiful", but the fact of the matter is that life is messy and not everyone lives in the circle of hapiness. I appreciate those that either through their (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 14:59 (Agree/Disagree?) "It should be about reality and not our own comfort levels." Thanks for that Jules. its great to revel in the supposed "beautiful", but the fact of the matter is that life is messy and not everyone lives in the circle of hapiness. I appreciate those that either through (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 15:02 (Agree/Disagree?) It should be about reality and not our own comfort levels." Thanks for that Jules. its great to revel in the supposed "beautiful", but the fact of the matter is that life is messy and not everyone lives in the circle of hapiness. I appreciate those that either through their own experience ,or that of others ,can portray it as so. (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 14:59 (Agree/Disagree?) "It should be about reality and not our own comfort levels." Thanks for that Jules. its great to revel in the supposed "beautiful", but the fact of the matter is that life is messy and not everyone lives in the circle of hapiness. I appreciate those that either through their own (reply to this comment)

From Jerseygirl Friday, October 17, 2003, 15:05 (Agree/Disagree?) HOW MANY TIMES AM I GONNA HAVE TO SAY THIS FOLKS??!!! LOL(reply to this comment)

From Anthony Friday, October 17, 2003, 10:52 (Agree/Disagree?) I think many of us have experienced something along these lines, if not in exact detail, nonetheless, portions of it, for example, having to deal with the fact that our parents and “family” lied to us about almost everything. I’m certainly not taking ownership of her experience. I am simply reacting to it. Many filmmakers are incessantly criticized for making no substance pop-corn movies and “Hollywood fluff” as opposed to true-to-life entertainment and stories people can relate to. Personally, I like both genres, on a case-by-case or movie-by-movie basis. But if they were to adhere to what you say, Russell Crowe would’ve probably played in Men In Black III instead of A Beautiful Mind . I also believe that certain works of art fall into what our society considers bad taste, but again, it isn’t tasteless, it simply fails to conform to what is generally accepted as tasting good! (reply to this comment)

From Benz Friday, October 17, 2003, 02:41 (Agree/Disagree?) I haven’t said that art itself is either good or bad in taste, so I guess I agree with you. I alluded that tasteless people will appreciate art that is (in my opinion) not constructive in nature. (As this poem clearly is) I particularly agree with your opinion that “art is a reflection and expression of our own humanity”, key word “OWN”. Hence I believe, why artists are known for being “tortured souls”, perhaps it’s part of what fuels their imagination and creativity. However when the subject of an expression is someone else’s genuine bad experience it seems to be less “art” & more “portrait”, which is the reason I wonder how it is someone can assume to write about such an intense personal experience feeling of someone else in the first person, particularly if the person is not well known to the “poet”. (reply to this comment)

from just not on Tuesday, October 07, 2003 - 15:15 (Agree/Disagree?) Nothing against the person who wrote this but christ, some things just should not be turned into poems. It's morbid beyond belief, I understand it's in direct repetition of a stomach churning horrible true story but does making it rhyme help anyone? - this site needs a warning splash screen and age verifer of some sort! sick sick sick (reply to this comment)

From sarafina Wednesday, October 15, 2003, 05:41 (Agree/Disagree?) I'm sorry but I have to say that when I first read this poem I thought he should post it. I think that poetry should make you feel. Wither it be happy, excited, passionate mysterious, sad, discussed or sick. A good poem will make you think and feel. I'm not an expert on it this is only an opinion. I agree w/ Anthony, I have seen many films that take you to those levels not everything has a happy ending especially not real life. I'm not an expert on poetry but its obvious that when he read the story it touched him and this is his a way of expressing the horridness he felt for the person. I found it morbid but yet repetitious and triumphant, as in the original story. He gets the point across that it is horrible, sickening, saddening full of betrayal and repetition yet it also brings out her strength. The fact she understood what happened, didn't excuse it (even though it was her family and hard to do) and most of all that she was able to admit it, recognize it , tell it, separate herself from those who did it, break the cycle, and still stay strong and not let it happen again. I think that is a happy ending .. "Never will I call you my parents again Never again will I be your child slave This relationship spilled and circled the drain I will dance on your grave .. That says it all..that is your ending very true to life...you can't change it or turn back the time to stop what happened, but you can DEAL with it , learn and except that WAS her life not IS now. More on poetry, you remind me of Frank O' Hara. It's not about rhythm and rhyme but more about thoughts, expression and reality. Things you would really say or think, not just what you'd wish was said or hope. But its late and I really should stop there as I already can foresee the "persecution" I will get for these comments. One more thing though, this site does have disclaimer and warning label, you must be 18 or older, it should include "understanding and being open minded" Cause with all the fuked up things we've all been through we should be. (reply to this comment)

From Anthony Saturday, October 11, 2003, 16:59 (Agree/Disagree?) Art is perfect vehicle for getting ones’ story or message across in a compelling and artistic manner. Ever read a sad, yet, entertaining tale or see a non-exploitative film whose subject matter was not the most pleasant? Think of it as adding a little sweet to the sour sauce. To say that something is “beyond belief” is to imply limits and boundaries to what is believable and to our cognitive abilities, limits, which apparently cannot be crossed. However, this presents a problem: to say that something is “beyond belief” is a contradiction in terms, for one would have to have knowledge of what lies beyond the limits of belief in order to speak of such a place. And if it is believed that there is indeed such a place, then in lies in the realm of belief and nothing is beyond belief. Now, certainly things are not believable and false, but they are not “beyond belief,” for it is believed that that are not believable, and while this sounds like a contradiction, it really isn’t. But I agree with you, it really is a nasty poem, song actually, so is life in many respects! Check out the great band MuDvAYne. Anthony (reply to this comment)