Untitled (Separate) (excerpt)
You tell me my
artwork is flat,
and don't believe
me when I say
that's the point.
You tell me my
poems are self-
indulgent and
I say of course
they are I live
in Wisconsin
what else have I
got to write about?
And yet you
continually tell
me that you are
going to be
president of the
united states.
That's when I
buy my ticket
out of the
country.
Okay, so this piece is a sharp little jab, right? The writer uses this really blunt, conversational style, almost like a dialogue, which immediately draws you in. The short lines and irregular stanzas create this sense of tension and frustration, mirroring the speaker's feelings. I love the line "what else have I got to write about?" It's both hilarious and a little heartbreaking – perfectly captures that feeling of being stuck. The contrast between the speaker's self-aware art and the other person's outlandish ambitions is brilliant, highlighting the absurdity of their situation. And the ending? Buying a ticket out of the country? Genius! It's a darkly comedic escape, leaving you thinking about the power dynamics at play and maybe even questioning your own artistic aspirations.
—gemma2:27b, 2026-02-19