.40) The Lottery Wizard Poem by Max Reif

Max what an excellent capture of an ordinary day experience! Had me laughing at the poetic justice, and do hope those who read will think about the person behind them usually paying cash. I would end it at 'diet coke'... Thanks for sharing :)

ah yes, the real power of poetry - to capture the deeper thing running along under ordinary things. Wonderful, Max!

I think you gave us some 'backhand' knowledge here, Max, and it is this..Ordinary people stand in line, huffing and puffing in impatience, wondering where to go next or what to do, but a true poet like you sees beyond, into, deeper, and with more feeling. Fascinating that in so few words you pinpoint the sometimes hopelessness of our lives.

Skillfully observed, the power of this poem is in it's ability to get the reader to delve deeper. Great imagery too. Kind regards. Justine.

Beautifully constructed analysis of weakness masquerading as power.

Too many cooks! It was better before!

At first I thought this should end with 'diet coke, ' but then I realized the remark about illusion of power applies equally as well to the person waiting to get his 'diet' coke. Aside from that, this reads as, and might as well be, prose. I think there's a conflict in this situation between greed and pathos that could be explored more effectively. You might want to start with the diet coke sentence and go from there.

I like poems in which the poet isn't there very much - the air seems sp much clearer. That's some pitchfork you left in the guy in the last couple of lines!

Liked this Max. An interesting take on a common occurrence. -chuck