Shrug with false dignity
Virtues signaled
Calculating fractions
Of what is left
Pinpoint the point
Within the point
I’m trying to make
Pretentious as hell
With my poetic license
A tin-can philosopher
Of little note
Weaver of words
Offering up shallow
Observations
Commentary, judgment
Of the world around me
Too self-indulgent
To see
I, like the others
Haven’t a clue
What the hell
I’m talking about
The Stories In Between 
“If I spoke prose you’d all find out / I don’t know what I talk about. ”
Yellow Submarine, 1968
LikeLiked by 6 people
Damn Beatles, beat me to it every time.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I often end up with this conclusion, such a poetic way to put it. Great job my friend.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, as always, for reading my work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was my pleasure.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Great work. It is always a pleasure to read your prose.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you, I appreciate that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome- I can tell that you always write from the heart.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That means a lot to me, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do any of us know what we’re talking about?
And even if you don’t know what you’re talking about, you say it well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks. It’s important for me to occasionally remind myself of that very thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your poem makes me laugh. I think you know but wonder why and if so I do
so understand.
Do we all write to try to get things clear within ourselves?.Or because we feel
we have need to convey a truth?
You keep writing, it is great
Miriam
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you. I’m glad it made you laugh, that was pretty much the point.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like this. We lull ourselves into believing that what we are saying is important and matters.
Time will surely prove most of us wrong. Till then, let’s continue with our armchair philosophising.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Absolutely, the armchair is so much easier than actually getting up and doing something that will make a real difference. Pass me the Doritos!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sure! Would you like some salsa or guacamole to go with it, as we pontificate on depression, abuse, global warming, politics etc.
But all said and done, I am here because I love poetry and enjoy the chance to engage with other bloggers and have no illusions about self.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Salsa or guacamole? Blasphemy! There is no or, I will have both!
And yeah, I agree with you, I just like poking fun at myself sometimes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! I like both too! You are a man after my own heart. ☺️
Poking fun at self saves us the ignominy of being ridiculed by others.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I relate so much to this. I walk around feeling like a clueless fraud most of the time. Terrific poem!!!!
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you. I guess if we are going to be frauds then I suggest we do it in style!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ve summed up pretty much everyone! Great post 😊
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
Oh, we know, don’t we? The truth, whether we choose to openly admit it or not. You, at least, are able to pen it all so well. As a side note, I like the title. It’s perfect.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you. It’s possible I know at least part of the answer but that still doesn’t stop me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me neither!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Same feelings
perfectly written ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i sat on this for sometime, making me see that my words are also just as confusing to me, but you write it much more eloquently. i like your wit!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you. Words in general tend to be confusing to me but I love them. String a few together and we can make something beautiful. Or terrible.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I have that relationship with words too, at times they can be so easy to form and at times I am really speechless. Sharing words is a very important part of human connection. Like sharing memories.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha thanks for the chuckle…and there are the times when I re read something from the past and really wonder what the heck I was thinking at the time!
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yeah, me too. Thank you so much for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I love the previous comments on here, all so true!
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 3 people
This was very enjoyable. Made me smile. 🙂
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Insightful poem – many artists can relate, myself included 🤣 But what fun is there in “knowing it all” anyway? Stay curious my friend, the world is filled with mystery ! … can you pass me some guacamole 😁
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you for reading. A bowl, once filled with the weight of freshly prepared guacamole, now sits empty before us, none will take responsibility, but there is enough blame for all
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for the reblog!
LikeLike
Hello My Friend I have nominated you for the ” Blogger Recognition Award”. You can find it at ” https://www.myplace3187.wordpress.com
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you my friend, that is very kind of you to include me in your nominations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome my friend. I have always enjoyed your posts. You deserve this nomination. All the best in creating more good posts.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I like this poem. It describes the holier-than-thou moralist perfectly.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I appreciate that, thank you for reading.
LikeLike
Great poem! It’s an issue that I am very interested in.
btw; I wrote an Op-Ed called “NannyGate: Justin Trudeau – The Hypocrite”
https://christopherjohnlindsay.com/2018/07/28/justin-trudeau-the-hypocrite/
Minor edit: I’m almost certain “tin can” should be “tin-can”
“Generally, hyphenate two or more words when they come before a noun they modify and act as a single idea. This is called a compound adjective.” https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/hyphens.asp
I wonder if “trying to be” would be better than “trying to make”
LikeLiked by 4 people
I read your article, very interesting. A politician who is a hypocrite, who would have thought? ‘Rules for thee but not for me.’
Thank you for the grammer check, I appreciate that. I also had pinpoint written as “pin point.” I could certainly benefit from spending a bit more time editing.
“Trying to be” does fit well, I will consider that. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dito on that point. Great poem! 😁
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
Hi Stories! Ah, the ambiguity of thoughts and words. This piece certainly inspires some deep thinking. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. ~ Mia
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Mia, you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its so true so many times. I dont know what the hell i am talking about. I dont reach any conclusion. And then I feel bad as well ( ugh!).
Great poetry, by the way!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you very much for reading!
LikeLike
😏😜🙃🧐
Hmm, I do believe I understand prose better than I understand emoji! Emoji is the prose of the young and present. My niece is always sending me emoji, so I finally sent some back to her. I really thought about whatI was saying with them. She replied, “What the hell does that mean?”
I know what your prose means, and I like it!!!!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you very much. I am in the same boat as you, I don’t understand emoji. As a matter of fact, I do not believe I have ever used one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your aberrant thought.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure
LikeLiked by 2 people
We have no clue. But this poem was a moment of clear wisdom. 👏
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you!
LikeLike
Damn!! I can literally relate to this.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too! Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this one! I wrote something somewhat similar awhile back, after realising how all of my “poetry” and “profundity” is simply the ramblings of a pompous, arrogant ass who thinks his thoughts are more worthy of sharing than others’.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
A brilliant, bravely honest poem
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
Well done! Your poem is honest, relatable and well written. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Victoria.
LikeLike
Great one😁
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
A tin can philosopher is what “I are?”
LikeLiked by 3 people
We’re in good company!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. You. Do. ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Just keep weaving the words. 😊
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m trying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry, nobody else knows what the hell they’re doing either. This one’s a stand out
LikeLiked by 3 people
My life became much easier when I finally realized that everybody is full of shit.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Except us
LikeLiked by 2 people
Especially us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This really speaks to me. Very powerful words and images. Love this one
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not what we think we’re doing, more what others see in our words, no rhyme or reason, it’s a bit like breathing, we do it.
LikeLiked by 4 people
True.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If we hold the laurel wreath over our heads ourselves, it’s also important to whisper to ourselves ‘don’t forget you are mortal’
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yeah, never want to forget that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
well said anyway RIver
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Mark.
LikeLike
Great work
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now this really made me stop and think about my scribbling, something I don’t like to do. I speak better in emoji. Wonderful writing River.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s my pleasure River.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess all of us know this, but you put it so starkly. Lovely piece.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
Never take yourself too seriously–that’s my motto anyway:-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I try not to, but sometimes I do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ayyye!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nicely done… I certainly don’t know all “the answers” but I still take guesses at them in my words, but I really am clueless too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Careful, you may stumble onto some answers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only… 😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you do, let me in on it, huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha – I like the philosophizing of the narrator. The end comes abruptly, surprisingly, and with a bit of a chuckle.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find it pretty freeing to not know all the answers to everything. Maybe I don’t know anything and I just act like I do, but no matter it is still freeing to accept this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is pretty liberating realizing we don’t HAVE to know everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed reading this piece!
~WB
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLike
ha! captured that eternal struggle of the poetic mind perfectly!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
I mean. Tin can man. *snaps*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, E.
LikeLiked by 1 person