Ph: Poetry Writing: 800 Hits Just Last Friday Poem by Brian Johnston

I had 800 hits on my site just last Friday
But twenty-nine poems reported as read!
So, I wonder what message was really intended,
My verse that explosive in somebody's head?

In years past PH friend who was also a poet,
Egyptian named Merov (who knows, what is true?)
Well, he promised to put me on top of the ratings,
I told him, "No thank you! " what else could I do?

The best poets should rise if it's fate with their muses,
Just one of its flaws that few folks here discern,
But at PH the staff treat all poets like children,
They stop with the basics, play games, and aid spurn!

The real key to high ratings on PH is social,
"I'll comment and rate yours (if you do the same!)"
Though our poems innocuous both get high ratings
That pull in more readers (you all know your name!)

Heartfelt comments I think are the best one can hope for
A ten out of ten may sound good but says less,
Any fool can give 'tens, ' but a friend shares their feelings
Some barter for fame that no heart would confess!

Is it right to deny poets power to format,
To place words on pages as muse tells them to?
E. E. Cummings dismissed as a bull in a tea shop,
And all free-form verse relegated to zoo?

So was Merov the troll that once doctored friend's ratings?
Still website's designed so a fool can deface!
Just use multiple names, for there's no adult checking, (1)
Then play with your site, let sick pride map your space!


Brian Johnston
14th of October 2018

(1) Some sites moderate this behavior by chargeing a minimal
fee to have the privledge to be a member andcomment on a
poem. Few serious poets would object to a small charge!