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Acid Test (Clichés Workshop Poem) (Original & Re-write)

Acid Test (Re-write)

I listen to your words
and laugh at your lack of originality
You call yourself an artist
I call you a fake

You think your rhymes
Are elementary
Mean something in this universe
They have superiority.

But I can surely tell you now
I mock your every word
You make me laugh when you
Spill out your quotes.

You pretend that you don't want fame
You want anonymity
You want to live your life at full throttle
Then you pretend you're laid back

You don't know what your saying
You don't know what you mean
You stand there trying to looking hip
When I question you

All I ever get from you is a mumbled
I'm ready to rock
And work hard,
You're so confused

My attack at you is necessary
But your too blind to see
Your intelligence has left you
Leaving a shell of a fool

And once you look you'll see
It can't be found
When I ask you a question
You search for your mind

Your brain cells have depleted
And thus no answer is forthcoming
You've used clichés all your life and
believe me they have long lost their meaning

Yet still I hear you coming
Interrupted by your stereotypical nonsense
I've heard them all before
I place my hands over my ears trying to block out the barrage
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Acid Test (Original)

I listen to your words and laugh at your lack of originality
You call yourself an artist
I call you a fake
You think your clever rhymes
Are as fresh as a Summer's rain
But I can tell you straight
I mock your every word
You crack me up when you speak
Your favourite quotes
"Keep it on the down low"
and
"A rolling stone gathers no moss"
followed up with
"It ain't nothing but a chicken wing"
and then
"A mile a minute"
You don't know what your saying
You don't know what they mean
But you stand there trying to looking hip
When I question you
All I get is a mumbled
"I'm hot to trot"
and
"Keep your nose to the grindstone"
Just step back and listen to yourself
You are dumb
My attack at you is a necessary evil
But your too blind to see
Your intelligence is
Deeper than the deepest ocean
And once it's found, you'll see it is
Rotten to the core
When I ask you a question
It's all hands to the pump as you search your mind
Your brain cells are as scarce as hen's teeth
And thus no answer is forthcoming
You've used clichés all your life and
believe me they have long lost their meaning
Yet still I hear you coming
Interrupted by your stereotypical nonsense
I've heard them all before
I place my hands over my ears trying to block out the barrage of
"To many cooks spoil the broth"
"Free as a bird"
"Love is blind"
"The lesser of two evils"
"The icing on the cake"
"I'm game"
"Like a seven year itch"
"Knock it out of the park"
"Knock the cover off the ball"
"Age before beauty"
But it's all good because finally
You say nothing
Silence is golden

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words: 
Poem created using all 25 Clichés listed in the Olympic Pool - Clichés & their use workshop.
Editing stage: 

Comments

Damn, this is too good to be true, Dan, now how the hell am I (or anyone) supposed to top this one,
speaking of where the crow flies with the title (that's a sure hit).

~A

I just reread the cliche workshop contest rules. I think rather than rewrite these poems without cliches... a better idea would be to select the best poem...comprised from the 25 cliches.

I have mine completed. Where do I post it?

Anna,

the problem was trying to still be me and my style but using someone else's words...not easy.

You posted yours yet?

HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Chrys,

yeah, yeah, I know it's excellent, now where's my prize?

LOL

HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

(another cliche, lol!) Excellent work, Dan. I don't see how anyone can top this piece. Good point, Anna!

always, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

Cat,

I don't think it is very good and would never have posted a poem like this...it needs to be broken down into short verses, with a quality rhyming chorus and reverse lined bridge and the spoken outro...it looks bare like it is.

LOL!
HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Dan

Great job.

Your poem flows well, ti is very much in your style, every line works well.

Lou

Stand tall, be proud to be who you are, give the world the finger!!!!

Lou,

thanks my friend - it is actually quite a tough challenge...off to read yours now.

regards,

HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

I thought this was nice. I notice you use looking hip, I think you meant look hip. i like the story line it flow very good

*Collaborative Poetry Workshop* American Version of Japanese Poetry ~ Renga ~ Haiku, Senyru, Tanka.

Neopoet Community

This is really good cliched poem. I thought is flowed perfectly also, then the middle was like reading a grocery list of poetry cliches, then the ending tied it all in continuing the flow
great

*Collaborative Poetry Workshop* American Version of Japanese Poetry ~ Renga ~ Haiku, Senyru, Tanka.

Neopoet Community

I found this effort of yours to be completely unoriginal, full of cliches and-
oh, wait, um, it's SUPPOSED to be cliches, my bad!
But seriously, this is good work. It's damned hard to take cliches and make them into a poem that has even a modicum of sense, and you've done it well.

Respectfully, Race

"Laws and Rules don't kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does" - Race-9togo

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Race_9togo

I have never posted a poem or lyric or even written any with more than one word titles...and now my worst ever poem has two words in the title.

I am so sorry and apologise to my one word title fanatics out there.

All complaints to the workshop leader,

regards,

HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

I think you cheated. this is to good.
Damn you poet lyric writer Hahaha!
It's just to hard to write this way, I really see the point of this workshop so far, I can't wait to see what will be next.

good stuff Boss
Eddie

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS
IT'S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.
VIVIAN GREENE

Eddie,
I did not cheat, unless you take into account I can edit all workshop comments and poems, which of course I have done, to make them all so really bad and making mine look superb. I didn't have to edit your poem...it was bad enough already!

LOL!

HS

ps. I do not have the editing rights to edit any comment or poem, before you all take me to the Poet Police.

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

I think your trying to hurt my feeling, if I had any. LOL

Eddie

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS
IT'S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.
VIVIAN GREENE

Eddie,

I'm just glad you can take a joke, otherwise we'll both be up for harrassment!

LOL!

Good luck in the AEC - obviously the right bribe will secure my vote for you!!

LOL!

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Ian,

I am truly hurt at your attack of my wonderful and truly original poem. I have reported you to the Poet Police, but they laughed when they read my poem and your comment.

What is going to be funny is when we launch neo again officially and new poets join and go through the back catalogue of our work and pull out these dire cliche poems. We should all had a health warning to these poems.

I'm not looking forward to the re-write either.

As Director of Workshops...I think i will be sacked rather quickly when the AEC see what level of poetry we are all creating with this workshop!!

LOL!

HS (-22)

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Dan,

I think you made a good job of a hard task. A fantastic re-write, with no evidence of cliche, HS style.

God knows how I'm gonna improve mine.

Lou

Stand tall, be proud to be who you are, give the world the finger!!!!

Lou,

thanks for your comment, as you know this was a tough cherry to bite and both versions aren't really my usual style or subject matter...but I have learnt a lot about the use or not the use of cliches, so for that reason alone, it was worth doing,

thanks mate,

HS

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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Great rewrite . I like the flow and the imagery stands out showing just how cliche' are viewed in poetry

*Collaborative Poetry Workshop* American Version of Japanese Poetry ~ Renga ~ Haiku, Senyru, Tanka.

Neopoet Community

Barbara,

thanks for your comment. It flows better without cliches, but I kind of became attached to my original, and didn't want to re-write it...I can live with cliche poetry...especially when it is so over done, it becomes funny and allows the reader to understand you deliberatly used them.

regards,

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Sorry, but I liked the original, cliches and all.

;-)

~A

Anna,

yeah I think I do, I have become very protective of my Cliche poem, glad you liked it!

the re-write was important to show how it can be made cliche free, but when you have so many cliches in the original, it is obvious you've written it like that on purpose.

Cheers,

HS

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Workshops are now open:
http://new.neopoet.com/workshop/find
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

don't get \carried away by all the compliments being thrown your way by the likes of Eddie they could be mirages...lol..fun apart this is a good one...more credits from me because it is different from your comfort zone...

i am now getting more eager to know who will be on the winner's podium :)

raj (sublime_ocean)

I have to say the banter being thrown about is making this workshop really fun, but we all know there is a serious side to this and we are all embracing that too.

It's good to have this kind of spirit and playing whilst also benefitting from a damn good workshop.

Thanks to Chrys for putting up with us all!

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Raj,

don't worry, I know this poem isn't very good. It doesn't even have a chorus!!

Eddie is trying to lead me into a safe sense of security...but I have him clocked!!

I am guessing that either Lou or Ian will get podium.

Thanks for dropping by my friend.

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

Stuff the Ladies first...age before beauty...that means you win!

LOL

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

JayCee,

the workshop has been immensly fun, we have learnt together and best of all we have laughed together...it has been a real bonding workshop...which can do nothing but keep the positive family feel to the site.

Have you posted yet?...I'll go check,

thanks for making to my page...don't comment on Yenti's, it is rubbish! LOL!

HS

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Workshops are now open:
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

JayCee,

it is good you managed to get here, life does have a way of trying to get in the way of Neopoet!!

Just read your poem and left a comment...I am placing you at the top of the podium, me second and Barbara third...the wooded spoon to our very own Mr Y.

lmfao!

HS

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Workshops are now open:
http://new.neopoet.com/workshop/find
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment

I can't quite put my finger on why this is so good! Perhaps because it resonnates for me personally! Makes quite an argument, cliched or not!!
Cheers
Boni

Bonitaj

Boni,

thank you for the comment, which one do you prefer, original or re-write?

My favourite part was the last line, I just had to finish with silence.

Thanks for taking time to read and comment, you know I appreciate it,

regards,

HS

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Workshops are now open:
http://new.neopoet.com/workshop/find
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With all that I am and all that I could be, I walk this earth, yet nobody sees me.

author comment
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