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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
Infant Sushi
All the fine young well-dressed yuppies
Are eating newborn babies raw,
Infant sushi dipped in soy sauce,
Best cuisine they ever saw,
Harvested from public housing,
Evokes a pampered palette’s awe,
Tender slices bound to rice
For a rapacious effete maw.
Posted by anastasia56 on January 24, 2005, at 18:43:39
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
Posted by alexandra_k on January 24, 2005, at 19:03:42
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
Yes, bravo!
Reminds me why I am a vegetarian...
Posted by smokeymadison on January 24, 2005, at 19:06:42
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
Geisha swirl through iridescent iris winds
Or perhaps
Rubrious plaid crossings scream
Ink dissolves paper thin FONT
Grey bleeds bloody drama
Where kitchen sweet and sour pounces
Tearing tendons torturing tortoises
Starlings, pinpoints, prickles.
Nourishment flows costly.
Sucklings, lampreys, eels and squids:
Dietary delights, distraught patrons,
Plumb juices scorching copper.
Liver cleansing wines whirl:
Trailing veins, spinning fixtures
Nostalgia, whim, nor flights of fancy,
Lower the satisfaction of buttery bounty.
Scalding ice, frying rice,
Tight, miniscule bites.SM
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 20:46:32
In reply to dang, you're good (nm) » Atticus, posted by anastasia56 on January 24, 2005, at 18:43:39
Thanks so much, Anastasia. This was one of those iffy poems. I figured people would either see it as the social/class satire it is or be totally grossed out and think I'm mad as a hatter. So it was a no-lose situation. ;) Atticus
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 20:49:58
In reply to Re: poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by alexandra_k on January 24, 2005, at 19:03:42
The social and class food chain in action. Ultimately, my socio-political stances always come back to class conflict. I guess that's natural, considering what the Irish went through when we first started turning up in big urban centers like NYC. Ta. ;) Atticus
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 20:55:03
In reply to Re: Dining Light, posted by smokeymadison on January 24, 2005, at 19:06:42
Oi! Why do I get the feeling I'm being satirized here? Oh well, fair's fair. My stuff isn't everyone's cup of meat. ;) Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on January 24, 2005, at 21:07:49
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
okay, that makes me hungry.
nothing like an infant to satisfy the pallet.
seriously....
my goodness the carnivores are getting quite a hit.
I guess it's our due since we dine on others.
my best to you
Jai Narayan
Posted by smokeymadison on January 24, 2005, at 21:18:10
In reply to Re: Dining Light » smokeymadison, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 20:55:03
actually, i wrote this years ago. i wasn't satirizing you. i just thought that i would share a related peom that i had written.
SM
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 21:26:00
In reply to Re: poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Jai Narayan on January 24, 2005, at 21:07:49
I think I had Jonathan Swift's savage satire "A Modest Proposal" in the back of my mind when I wrote this, although this is about class conflict (the centerpiece of all my politics). In Swift's piece, he facetiously suggested that the starving Irish, dying in droves from the famine, consume their own children. No Irishman ever forgets that blistering indictment of the English. Atticus
Posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 21:27:33
In reply to Re: Dining Light » Atticus, posted by smokeymadison on January 24, 2005, at 21:18:10
Sorry about that, then. Seems we have similar visceral styles. Nice poem. ;) Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on January 25, 2005, at 8:42:03
In reply to Re: poem ... Infant Sushi » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 21:26:00
Well, that's a sobering image.
both my parents families survived the death boats and starvation.
so much loss and pain.
That I am alive mistfies me.
such a long trail of tears, death and relocation.
seems like this whole planet is filled with stories just like this one.
thank you Atticus.
Jai "O'Flaithfhileadh" (descendant of the prince poet) Narayan
Posted by sunny10 on January 25, 2005, at 13:07:29
In reply to poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by Atticus on January 24, 2005, at 14:57:56
For those of us with a more limited vocabulary than the exemplary one at your command, the last line would be just as good with the word "elite" replacing "effete".
From Webster.com (below), you obviously mean 2.c. (yes?), but some people would not know the less obscure meaning and think you were saying that infertile (or effeminate) people eat babies...
Main Entry: ef·fete
Pronunciation: e-'fEt, i-
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin effetus, from ex- + fetus fruitful -- more at FEMININE
1 : no longer fertile
2 a : having lost character, vitality, or strength <the effete monarchies ... of feudal Europe -- G. M. Trevelyan> b : marked by weakness or decadence <the effete East> c : soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence <peddled ... trendy tweeds to effete Easterners -- William Helmer> <effete tenderfeet>; also : characteristic of an effete person <a wool scarf ... a bit effete on an outdoorsman -- Nelson Bryant>
3 : EFFEMINATE 1 <a good-humored, effete boy brought up by maiden aunts -- Herman Wouk>
- ef·fete·ly adverb
- ef·fete·ness nounHope I don't offend by offering my opinion...I am a wishful poet.. that is, I wish I was creative enough to actually come up with this stuff!!!
I am actually WAY jealous of your talent (in the best, covetous manner, of course!).
-sunny10
Posted by Atticus on January 25, 2005, at 14:15:26
In reply to Irish poem of near extinction...thanks Atticus, posted by Jai Narayan on January 25, 2005, at 8:42:03
Yeah, the human food chain just grinds on. Atticus
Posted by Atticus on January 25, 2005, at 14:22:24
In reply to Re: poem ... Infant Sushi, posted by sunny10 on January 25, 2005, at 13:07:29
This is the definition of "effete" that I had in mind, and which I think the context of the poem's content helps emphasize:
>>soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence
The world "elite" doesn't carry this oh-so-pampered and spoiled connotation. You can have an "elite" athlete, but not an "effete" one. I wanted to make clear my contempt of such fundamental wasters of oxygen. That's why I chose "effete." God is in the details, as the saying goes. ;) Atticus
Posted by sunny10 on January 25, 2005, at 15:05:12
In reply to Re: poem ... Infant Sushi » sunny10, posted by Atticus on January 25, 2005, at 14:22:24
I think perhaps I am too used to being around prejudice.... Most people I know would say that all those considered "elite" are INDEED "soft and pampered", but I think you're right, poetry is in the details!
Thanks for not taking affront to my feeble suggestion...
sunny10
This is the end of the thread.
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