Slog - Comments on Stop the Poerty Bus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus Not only must we contend with late buses, and bus drivers who have no mercy for those who are just moments late, and passengers who don't know "the meaning of water nor soap," we must also continue to endure the awful tradition of putting bad poetry in the advertisements boards above our heads. This year, "a panel of professional writers" (if these are the same class of people as the ones who now run Seattle Arts and Lecture's school program, we know what "professional writers" means--therapists, spiritualists, caregivers, mummies and daddies) have asked Seattle's healthy population of poets to address... Copyright 2008 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:59:07 -0800 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:31:42 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Thom Argh, the poerty!

]]> Thom http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650891 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650891 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:15:20 -0800 Comment by Tiz The advertising on buses is all about adult education, schools, and drugs: clearly implying that only losers ride the bus. Depressing.

So, bad poetry is better than that.

]]> Tiz http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650893 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650893 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:15:32 -0800 Comment by Levislade I agree (although I am tempted to toss off an entry for the 125 smackers), but please don't bring the thoroughly excellent Poetry Bus into this: http://www.poetrybus.com/

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650896 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650896 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:18:23 -0800 Comment by seattle98104 Charles Mudede feasts on the dreams of children for breakfast.

]]> seattle98104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650902 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650902 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:27:15 -0800 Comment by Fnarf I dream
Of riding a bus
Without poetry
Or other people.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650924 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650924 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:41:55 -0800 Comment by elswinger Thom beat me to it. I have no idea what poerty is.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650925 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650925 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:43:46 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Ride on a winter day
Snow grips my sould
Words of paid scribeners disgust me.

Oh, poetry!
Oh, slush!
Send your slush funds down my down coat!
Rail against the dying of the unpaid bus poet!
Fight for the dying of the light.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650929 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650929 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:45:05 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver I'm not sure if the Poetry on the Bus thing got started before I moved to Seattle in 1997, but I do recall that the poetry was better overall in the late 90s and only started to suck overall around 2000.

Fnarf, enter your poem. Please!

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650942 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650942 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:55:06 -0800 Comment by Suz What is the link for entering poems?!!

]]> Suz http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650947 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650947 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:00:05 -0800 Comment by Levislade Link: http://www.4culture.org/publicart/poetry/index.htm

Except it looks like it won't be up and running until March 9th.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650951 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650951 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:01:55 -0800 Comment by Billy Send your letter of protest to:

info@4culture.org

]]> Billy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650986 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650986 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:20:22 -0800 Comment by DOUG. Express bus packed
Cheek to nipples,
Please don't stop
For the cripples.

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650991 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c650991 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:22:47 -0800 Comment by jamier Furry cat
Haunting my dreams
Walking away
Greek star
Indicating
Lack of fur
Brown asterisk
Kill me before I wake

]]> jamier http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651002 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651002 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:40:08 -0800 Comment by Smarm Bus Booster Tries It

Bus on snow schedule
and behind schedule.
Booster rails at fate
mumbling he'll be late.
I think: fuck you.

]]> Smarm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651009 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651009 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:48:51 -0800 Comment by Hernandez These are all better poems than the ones on the bus. Fnarf, you must enter yours in the contest.

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651023 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651023 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:04:20 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver Jamier @ 13, that reminds me... does anyone have the link to the infamous poem about the cat butt that Metro actually used?

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651044 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651044 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:30:33 -0800 Comment by Poertic Justice Stirring from sleep,
prison rape was the most remote
of possibilities for that stranger,
inner turmoil playing out
on a bus window.
Faggot, faggot and faggot,
a pinata spills it's guts
and the 7 route is restored to
it's former glory.
Poertic justice has been served
and a rape vic in the making Goetz
what he deserves.
Pasearse con las reglas, indeed
Oh, favorite bus sign.
I look at you for the entire ride
so I don't have to look at
these fucking people.
Halitosis, Holla back.

]]> Poertic Justice http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651046 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651046 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:32:01 -0800 Comment by DreadLion "Absolute gray is the grayest gray / That's the same distance from absolute white as it is from absolute black,"

Ken Nordine
"Coral' ("It's an absolute flip".


http://www.moviegrooves.com/shop/colors.htm

poetry makes the world keep on Keepin on.


]]> DreadLion http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651055 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651055 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:43:12 -0800 Comment by The I stands for Ignore Charles-
My suggestion is to get a video I-Pod. My quality of life on the bus has dramatically improved since I got mine. I watch episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher or listen to the Scissor sisters.

I can sit happily and ignore most everything else happening on the bus with the help from my little Ipod. If they came with a little air freshner button then it truly would be the best invention ever for the bus.

]]> The I stands for Ignore http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651065 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651065 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:51:10 -0800 Comment by Jude Fawley Poertic Justice: Nice.

]]> Jude Fawley http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651070 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651070 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:55:20 -0800 Comment by Man from Nantucket I'd support the program if the panel invited poets to write about "Nantucket".

]]> Man from Nantucket http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651082 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651082 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:07:44 -0800 Comment by Dougsf On BART, during rush hour, when standing folk are groin-to-eye level with folks who have seats, a well place "Report suspiscious packages" reminder is all the poetry I need on my commute.

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651122 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651122 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:00:23 -0800 Comment by DreadLion #22 lol. ROFL. Thats the sense of humour outlook from San Francisco that makes me miss that place. Life gets you in a serious mode, sometimes you have to laugh it off.

]]> DreadLion http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651254 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651254 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:50:28 -0800 Comment by bento Until today, I thought there was nothing in the world more boring than hearing about other people's dreams.

"Something weird happened in your dream? That's amazing! Because there are NO FUCKING RULES in dreams."

Until today that is... Reading amateur poetry (or poerty) about other people's dreams sounds like something they do at Guantanamo.

]]> bento http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651307 Arts Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:42:34 -0800 Comment by Grant Cogswell #2, bad poetry isn't harmless: it abets the soul-crushing of all the other shit that surrounds us by its refusal to fight it with the possibilities it could embrace. #13, I haven't been on a Seattle bus in five months, and I still remember that goddamn poem about the poet's cat's asshole. Lord love a duck, as my grandma used to say.

]]> Grant Cogswell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651872 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651872 Arts Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:42:49 -0800 Comment by Grant Cogswell There's lots and lots of good poems out there that people deserve to be exposed to - especially given that a free education in this country is usually bad - they're mostly in books - this anyone-can-make-art bullshit is the death of civilization. That's not elitism, by the way. Elitism is the notion that money rules because it deserves to, which is what is in effect in the absence of real aesthetics.

]]> Grant Cogswell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651875 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651875 Arts Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:49:30 -0800 Comment by ex-CD The poetry on the Metro here in Paris is overall pretty good. Some classics, some good new poems, some shitty new poems. Even the worst is nothing compared to the crap I remember from Seattle's Metro buses.

My point? Move to a real city.

]]> ex-CD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651939 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651939 Arts Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:46:10 -0800 Comment by ex-CD The poetry on the Metro here in Paris is overall pretty good. Some classics, some good new poems, some shitty new poems. Even the worst is nothing compared to the crap I remember from Seattle's Metro buses.

]]> ex-CD http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651940 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c651940 Arts Thu, 01 Mar 2007 04:47:53 -0800 Comment by Kalakalot Oh my God, the cat asshole poem will be forever seared into my memory. I am still unable to see an asterisk without shuddering, and there are two on this "post a comment" page, arg! But there are some gems on the bus, too. Like the ice cream cone poem by the second-grader. And this one, by Roberto Carlos Ascalon:

When I donate blood
I always ask the technician if I
can hold the bag afterwards.

What does
one quart of me
feel like?

I want to know.

They never let me.
It is against regulations
to hold yourself
in that way.

]]> Kalakalot http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c652064 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c652064 Arts Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:45:59 -0800 Comment by buvrs ulvcsgpkd gromef gpzjsyha ixsyh oyrh xgtiq apyihj thkuq

]]> buvrs ulvcsgpkd http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c665256 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c665256 Arts Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:30:24 -0800 Comment by buvrs ulvcsgpkd gromef gpzjsyha ixsyh oyrh xgtiq apyihj thkuq

]]> buvrs ulvcsgpkd http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c665316 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/02/stop_the_poerty_bus#c665316 Arts Sat, 10 Mar 2007 15:31:42 -0800