Unsolicited Poetry Wing #1

Don't shoot the messenger
I only pass these
innumerable dissuasions
on, by decree

Just some advice, commingled
by an omniscient being
working tirelessly, without fee
poring over missives
sent by any means

...and all that
was pretense, lent to me
by the Head
of the Unsolicited Poetry Wing
Now that we've got it
out of the way
I can get this thing started, already

Don’t send someone out
on generic errands
when you have something specific
in mind

ok?

Don’t try to prevent
knife's edge
from making its way
inside
the jam jar, now and then
with a little peanut butter

unless you’re allergic
in that case, this is not advice, and
why are you handling peanut butter?
these aren't meant to be interactive, anyway
I'm in charge; This is a monologue, a one way street!
Now, listen to me. As I was saying...

Don’t force
a door to push open
just because
it doesn’t have a sign
saying pull, in all caps

*head bob-nodding, brow raised
lips pressed in mock frown
direct eye contact*

Don’t miss
what passed you by
the speed
of the wind
told you something

*silence, then
a deep exhale
an expectant pause, as if they're really proud of this one
and want give you time to appreciate; let it sink in
just as you begin to feel annoyed:
is this condescension or pretentiousness?
they jolt to life, upright, again*

Don’t fret
about strings, out of tune
we like to be
surprised, now and then

*without missing a beat
and if to answer the previous
too-long awkward pause
they continue*

Don’t worry
if what you say
will be too fill-in-the-blank
to be received
You're not an imposter
getting away, with being

“Girl, why is you lying? Girl, why you Mufasa?”
Sometimes they fold in
quotes and scenes
Again...
Don't come for me; I'm
still just the messenger
somewhere between

Don’t drag things
up, and on
after they’ve already
sunk
to the bottom
you’ll need more water
to carry it, for long

*the voice deems:
"oh, and one more thing:
keep tapping the Shrug key"
and with that, they fold up
and leave, quick as they came*

Back of the Page

I’m not sure what this was, really. A visit from some messenger claiming to speak for an omniscient being, but also - they seemed to have some say in how things were presented, and maybe their own motivations. I’ve never heard of the Unsolicited Poetry Wing…will see if they ever show up again. They told me to just “keep tapping the Shrug key” - not sure what that means?

Thanks to Isabel for the “madcap imagination” comment yesterday. For some reason, that stuck with me, and felt right. Something’s telling me to go more in this direction. We’ll see.

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