Sources

[dukealien]

Sources


Must confess, I do prefer
to get my news from blogs and not
the network shows.  I'm like those dogs
who'd rather drink from toilet bowls
than doggy dishes master-filled
because their porcelain exudes
more character, identity,
variety than steel or plastic
and no less chlorine.

[Achebe]

Now if you're squeamish, you wouldn't want to imagine how a toilet bowl would show character...

[Yjack123]

I love the idea.  I think you could have gone much further with it.  More about the dog and it's similarities to yourself.  What other things do dogs do instinctively that we could learn from?  How could our lives be improved if we would just drink from the toilet once in a while.  Its a nice nugget that begs for expansion.  I think it could go places.

[dukealien]

Thanks, both.  The idea of expanding this is somewhat attractive.

@Achebe - insert remark about poetry not being for the squeamish

[RiverNotch]

Sources


Must confess, I do prefer
to get my news from blogs and not
the network shows.  I'm like those dogs
who'd rather drink from toilet bowls
than doggy dishes master-filled
because their porcelain exudes
more character, identity,
variety than steel or plastic
and no less chlorine.

I like that this commentary on news media is a lot more reasonable than usual, especially since its register seems to be more detached, more didactic. I don't really buy the whole "the media is lying to us" angle, even from the standpoint as mass media as agents of the capitalist machine -- it's a lot more nuanced than that, I'm certain. The only real reason to prefer less traditional sources is, yes, "character, identity, / variety" -- at least when a major news outlet gets it wrong, there's a much bigger chance it gets called out. On this note, however, I do wish there was a little more granularity in the poem: "no less chlorine", by my read, could mean either that these alternative sources are just as truthful as modern news media, or that these alternative sources are just as toxic, and both cases have plenty of exceptions. I also like the confessional, somewhat self-deprecating nature of the whole thing -- it's that sort of humility that could really keep a conversation civil.

[dukealien]

I like that this commentary on news media is a lot more reasonable than usual, especially since its register seems to be more detached, more didactic. I don't really buy the whole "the media is lying to us" angle, even from the standpoint as mass media as agents of the capitalist machine -- it's a lot more nuanced than that, I'm certain. The only real reason to prefer less traditional sources is, yes, "character, identity, / variety" -- at least when a major news outlet gets it wrong, there's a much bigger chance it gets called out. On this note, however, I do wish there was a little more granularity in the poem: "no less chlorine", by my read, could mean either that these alternative sources are just as truthful as modern news media, or that these alternative sources are just as toxic, and both cases have plenty of exceptions. I also like the confessional, somewhat self-deprecating nature of the whole thing -- it's that sort of humility that could really keep a conversation civil.

Thanks!  Good to know what's working... if by "granularity" you mean returning to the referent of the extended simile, it seemed like explaining.  You may be right, but the ambiguity could also represent indecision.  Maybe.

[Keith]

Love this for its simplicity and fun toilet bowl humour, still trying to work out the chlorine reference. You say and no less, but surely more is bad ? A fun piece that tickled my fancy. Best Keith

[dukealien]

Love this for its simplicity and fun toilet bowl humour, still trying to work out the chlorine reference. You say and no less, but surely more is bad ? A fun piece that tickled my fancy. Best Keith

Thanks, and there's one that can be explained without explaining:  dogs presumably don't like residual chlorine in treated water (they drink happily from ditches), but it may have become a (beloved?) part of living indoors.  It also means - even in the porcelain context - that the water's safer... if less interesting.

So, to be honest, I have no idea:  I chose "no less" for the alliteration with "chlorine" and the previous line over the more localized assonance with "no more."

[ClaireLou]

This is really good, I enjoy poetry that's short, punchy & gets to the point but is still written well & this is all of that & it makes me smile, plus plus & plus