When I was young
I once decided
to use what I
had learned in school,
and write a poem
so terrific,
to show the world
I'm not a fool.

Follow up:

A fool I was,
for in my poem
I made a couple
of mistakes.
I told myself
that real poets
never make mistakes!

And so I took
another paper,
and threw the old one
on the floor.
"My next creation
will be better!
And I shall make
mistakes no more!"

The rusty paper
fell down lightly,
its words were looking
up at me:
"My dear creator,
why so ruthless?
Why can't you see
the good in me?
And me?!
And me??..."

I told my words
I wasn't happy,
despite the fact
they weren't that bad,
I also said
"But you aren't
perfect!
The paper-marks
make you look me feel sad!"

In front of me -
another paper,
its empty contents
made me smile,
"I'll write on it
and prove my greatness
in just a silly
little while!"

I knew I learned
a painful lesson,
and I decided
that next time
my errors won't
show up on paper
as I unfold
my perfect rhyme.

The project grew
and I was thinking
that I would
get it right that day...
But something strange
just had to happen!
My words began
to disobey!!

I couldn't grasp
what I was seeing.
I must have missed
a tiny spot!
And although now
it seemed much better,
there's always time
for a new start!

Another paper
plunges smoking,
its passengers
are in dismay!
"Oh, master!
Please!
We are not guilty!
Please let us stay!
Please let us stay!"

"No! helpless
little creatures!
"I fear I cannot
do that, Dave",
for only poets
who are flawless,
shall live forever
in their fame".

Another day,
a new beginning?
A prematurely
dying star!
That day
I spilled
a cup of coffee.
The poem drowned.
It felt bizarre...

I didn't mourn,
as I got wiser...
I felt
that I was still
in gain.
Myself I promised:
"In the future,
such things shall
not occur again!"

My optimism
kept growing bigger
"I know
I will succeed one day".
But something happened,
and I panicked...
"I guess that day
is not
today..."

My clock was ticking,
minutes... hours...
My calendars
were all
replaced.
As moons
were chasing
one another,
I learned
time cannot be
outpaced.

My judgment went
beyond known limits,
as I got sharp
in wielding words.
"With so many
unfinished poems,
I can
enlighten
the whole world!"

I stood up slowly,
breathed in deeply...
Before the final
blow was struck,
I laughed
while looking
in the mirror:
"A genius
does not
need luck!"

My blade
was shining
in the abyss,
"You are prepared",
the voices said.
The Earth
stood still
and I
was ready,
to cut the
veil of darkness dead.

A sudden flash
has got me
blinded,
my silver hair
in silence froze,
I found myself
in a straightjacket-
my life has
grinded to a halt.
***
My desk was empty!
No more paper!
The light
got trapped
inside my head...
My lips got
glued together firmly,
in seconds
I'd go mad.

My mind
still lucid,
I am sinking,
my sense of self
begins to bleed.
I crash
into the floor
abruptly...
To meet my doom,
and all
my sheets...

Source code included:


Hi-res version of the poster is available upon request.