Don't Speak to Me in Tongues

[Todd]

This is pretty damn cool Billy. I like the title, it reminds me of babel and those that would see great learning as an end to itself--a religious experience of sorts. The rhyme for the most part (rim and vim being the exception) sits below the surface. It provides a nice sound when read out loud but doesn't have a forced sense to it.

Latest edit;

I don’t want to be
an anachronistic fossil
suspended by the academe
rutted in brittle drone syndrome--love brittle drone syndrome. It stinks of group think.
of syntax and scholastic meme

I don’t require a requiem
of mortarboards flung skyward--nice rhyme with meme and requiem I like this pair of lines here a lot.
honour bound
that drum out masonic
in words that hiss but make no sound--best lines in the poem for me. Masonic is a great choice as if this is some hidden gnostic clique. I also like the idea of words hissing like a whisper or in disapproval but not conveying anyting worthwhile

I don’t yearn for tête-à-tête
with educational elite
whose coffee cups are stroked
around the crusted rim
with anecdotal tales
conversely told with vim

I want to see in black and white and grey--the and grey elevates this from cliche
what an edifice can say
to me in terms of lay and lie--I read this as both meanings of lie
I want to feel and hear it
fly below my head
I want to know
what’s just been fucking said.

It's solid. No real suggestion to offer. Enjoyed the read.

Best,

Todd