Poetic Crimes

I think there ought to be punishments,
upon those who misuse poetry.

Two sins,
two wrongs
in the use of poetry.
One is to claim to have written,
something written by another -
to plagiarize…
a wrong deserving of shame
or that one should be shamed by others
if caught.
These things should not go unpunished!
It is more than just a theft -
there is a greater wrong involved
because of the sacredness of poetry.

I think God gives us this
as some divine gift.
As a Christian, I’ve had somewhat
specific ideas about certain things.
The Muse, as they say,
I believe to be something of the essence of
God or perhaps we can represent her
as an angel – but still she is
an essence of God.

There is another serious wrong
or sin
and that is to lie with poetry.
One need not bare one’s self too much,
or reveal that which is private,
or over-expose oneself.
That is a reasonable right of any poet.
No poet though, should ever knowingly
use poetry in a deceptive fashion…
to create a poem that is false…
that should be a serious sin.

I have been the victim of this sin,
this wrongful use of poetry.
She had chosen to deceive me
with a poem on Valentine’s day.
She got the idea that she needed to make me think
that she loved me.
To use me.
The poet in me feels a certain
fury for her use of a poem
in this fashion…
she claimed herself that it was a poor poem.
So what.
What was wrong, so wrong,
was to use poetry
in the commission of this deception.
There ought to be punishments
for those who invite the Muses
to deceive
and create false
and abusive
poetry.

Bruce Whealton March 16, 2009