Rate-a-Poem: A Man Said to the Universe

Rate it below, or expand if no choice applies to you:

  • 5 Stars: A masterpiece

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • 4 Stars: A strong poem, but some elements didn't appeal to me

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • 3 Stars: A good poem, but it didn't move me to any great extent

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 2 Stars: A flawed or uninspiring piece of work

    Votes: 1 11.1%
  • 1 Star: Does absolutely nothing for me

    Votes: 2 22.2%

  • Total voters
    9

William Haskins

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By Stephen Crane
(1871 - 1900)

A Man Said to the Universe

A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
 

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I've always loved this one. If I can feel the satisfying sting of truth (sometimes it's a caress, but not this time) in this kind of brevity, I'm impressed and happy.
 

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Nothing is wrong with you! I always feel like a heathen when I have issues with anything labelled as poetry, so I'm relieved when others show that it happens to them too.
 

mkcbunny

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This one feels more like a philosophy exercise to me than a poem—which doesn't mean it isn't a poem, of course.
 

William Haskins

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mkcbunny said:
This one feels more like a philosophy exercise to me than a poem—which doesn't mean it isn't a poem, of course.

exactly. the two are not mutually exclusive.

i chose this one because it shares many similarities, at first glance, with the williams' poem about the cat. no rhyme, the illusion of prose, not metaphorically-loaded, etc.

and yet, in terms of function and scope, it couldn't be more different. together, they represent two extreme ends of the spectrum. a simple image to an arguably profound pronouncement about man's place in the universe.

man, i love poetry...
 

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It's amusing to see that reviewing poetry is somewhat like wine-tasting. We'll resort to very personal, almost obscure commentary to express our reactions in hopes of having others see and feel what we do. It's fun and eventually, I'll end up with a tipsy tingle behind my eyes.
 

Unique

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I like the photograph - it makes me want to write a poem.
 

Ralyks

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Another one of my favorite poems. Stephen Crane is certainly NOT known for his poetry, but I have always been blown away by how he can say so much in so very, very few words.
 

Unique

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I keep coming back to look at the picture. I think it's the Svengali eyes. Help.
 

brokenfingers

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Hmm, this reads to me like prose arranged differently.

So, I have a question:

Does being pithy qualify as poetry? Or expressing a statement but arranging the words so they do not run in a straight line?

Enquiring minds want to know...