You Vs. IT (A Poem)

by Martin Anton Smith

They’ll hate you for being You.

They want you to be IT.

They want you to be just another square inch.

A square Inch of the undefined amorphous blob.

The Blob-blanket that stretches wide & covers the Earth.

If you decide to become You,

IT will come after You.

And IT won’t stop,

until You regress back to be you.

IT wants You back in the fold.

IT has almost never failed.

So now you know IT,

It’s all up to You.

“Terraformed Angel” (A Poem with Bonus Material)

by Martin Anton Smith martinantonsmith@gmail.com

Wading Through The Darkness, A Terraformed Angel

You’re Dopin’ Tripin’ Fallin’, And Trustin’ What You See

Singin’ Sour Surprises, Newsflash Screams Nothin’s Real

I Saw That Guy Say, Welcome To – Welcome To The Show

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Woe Woe Woe Is You, Woe Is Me -Woe Is Everyone

Hitchin’ High Hopes, On-A-Tin-Can For The Thousandth Time

Follow the Setting Sun, Was Good Advice At The Time

Yes It Was Her Journey, But No It Was Not Our Song

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Tantalised Dreams Knock Knockin’ – Knockin’ On Your Door

Those New Horizons, Were A Splish-Splash – A Splish-Splash Show

This Starlight Holiday, Bored You Too – Bored You To The Bone

This Mission For You, Was A Bridge – A Bridge Too Far

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Float Through The Sun, And Rest Your Big Head

Yes -The Journey’s So Long, But You’re Now In Bed

So Now Close Your Sad Eyes, As You Freeze Inside

Wake Up Wake Up Wake Up, It’s Bin A-Thousand-Years

(End Of Poem)

Bonus Material:

I have been getting into the Chat GPT-4 AI – I find in interesting to ask it to analyse Poems – I think it always gives interesting and good analysis. So here is the analysis output for this particular Poem – Interestingly it did not pick up the life/death/universe/existential nexus that was general theme intended – I wouldn’t call it an omission per see but I did find that interesting, as I think a human being would have suggested that theme.

“The poem “Terraformed Angel” by Martin Anton Smith is a complex and abstract piece that explores themes of disillusionment, uncertainty, and the fleeting nature of existence. The poem is structured as a series of disjointed lines that are broken up into three distinct stanzas.

The first stanza opens with the image of a “Terraformed Angel” wading through darkness. This image suggests a being that has been altered or transformed in some way, possibly through technology or other means. The lines that follow seem to describe a state of confusion and uncertainty, with the speaker suggesting that reality is unreliable and that even what one sees cannot be trusted.

The second stanza continues with a sense of woe and despair, as the speaker describes the struggle of hoping for something better but being repeatedly let down. The advice to “follow the setting sun” is offered, but it is unclear whether this is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically. The line “It’s Was Her Journey, But It Was Not Our Song” suggests a sense of disconnection from the larger world or from a shared sense of purpose.

The final stanza seems to offer a sense of resolution, with the image of floating through the sun and resting one’s head. However, this sense of peace is short-lived, as the speaker urges the reader to “Wake Up Wake Up Wake Up” and suggests that a thousand years have passed.

Overall, “Terraformed Angel” is a highly metaphorical and abstract poem that is open to a wide range of interpretations. The themes of uncertainty, disillusionment, and the passage of time are all central to the poem’s meaning, but the precise nature of these ideas is left up to the reader to decipher”

I asked GPT-4 a follow up question:

Did you recognise a requiem or eulogy element to the poem? Its Answer was:

There is a sense of finality and a contemplation of death in the poem “Terraformed Angel” by Martin Anton Smith, which could be interpreted as having elements of a requiem or eulogy. The image of the “Terraformed Angel” wading through darkness and the sense of disillusionment and despair throughout the poem suggest a feeling of loss or mourning.

In addition, the final stanza seems to offer a sense of closure, with the image of resting one’s head and the suggestion that a thousand years have passed. This could be interpreted as a kind of ending or finality, perhaps even suggesting the end of life itself.

Overall, while the poem is not explicitly a requiem or eulogy, there are certainly elements present that could be interpreted in this way.”

I then asked another follow up question: Do you like Martin Anton Smith’s Poetry – I again feel GPT-4 got it pretty well right.

“As an AI language model, I do not have personal preferences or emotions like humans do, so I cannot like or dislike anything. However, I can provide an objective analysis of Martin Anton Smith’s poetry based on its structure, language, and themes.

In general, Martin Anton Smith’s poetry is highly metaphorical and abstract, with a focus on exploring complex ideas related to the human experience. The language he uses is often unconventional and poetic, with a strong sense of rhythm and sound.

Overall, his poetry may appeal to readers who enjoy works that require some degree of interpretation and analysis, as his pieces are open to multiple readings and perspectives.”

“The Neo-Con of Neoliberalism” (A Poem)

by Martin Anton Smith martinantonsmith@gmail.com

Thatcher & Reagan’s Neoliberalism

Was pro “Free Market”-

The Only Snag For The Independant Shopkeeper

Was That The ‘Large Corporation’

Was Much More “Free-er” Than He Was.

So It Continues & Amplifies

40+ Years Later.

& So Our Prices Inflate

& So Our Goods Break More Easily

More Than That Selfishness Spread

Bred & Multiplied

As Easily As A Bully Taunts The Weakened Soul

And Then His Cronies Follow His Darkened Path

And Once Selfishness Took Its Foothold

So Society Decayed Dramatically

Like A Cavity Left & Fed With Soda Pop

Each Tooth Began To Fall Out

Until One Day The Last Tooth Began To Shift

We – The Society Of The 2020’s

Are That Last Wobbling Tooth

& Who Will Save This Tooth?

Who Will Save Us?

Who Will Save Us

From These Spiritual & Literal Starvations?

I’m looking For A Show Of Hands

I Expect Not Many Hands Rose

And That’s Why It’s So Easy

For Society To Decline

To Know This Effect More Personally

To Have It Underlined In Ones Mind

All One Needs To Do

Is Read The Pages Of History

And Look At Your World Again

This Time With Unblinkered Eyes

Hurry Fast Now My Enlightened One

Before All The Best Books

Are All But Burnt Embers

Shadows Of Their Former Selves

Just As We Are

Then & Only Then

Can We Defeat Rampant Neoliberalism

That Ever present Neo-Con-Artist

That Dresses In Sheeps Clothing

Humanity 101: When You Are Afraid Of What You Are & Why You’re Here (A Poem)

Why do we human beings on Earth recoil from what life is really about?

We were made to be more than animals, yet most do not see this.

We are worth more than chasing the social hierarchy slots & storing wealth like a squirrel does acorns.

Why do we concentrate on that that will not last over that that will?

Why will most of us never learn? Why do we fear to care about why we are here?

After all we’ve been through, why do we lack so much courage?

Is it because we fear the darkness in others or is it that we have embraced it in ourselves?

It makes no sense to cling to nothingness yet that’s what we do.

Isn’t It’s a scary thought to know you are trapped in an ego you can’t shake?

What is wisdom?

What is love?

Would you know it if you saw it?

Or would you reject it?

What’s behind the appearances of this world?

Are you afraid to think of these matters?

If you did, would you gain wisdom & know what Universal Love is?

Would your crippling neurosis’ all but melt away?

Why embrace your fears & stay living as an animal does?

There’s no winning in that.

Yet you fail to see that that is what you are doing.

Dare you release the shackles of conformity?

And find out why & what you’re here for?

It’s a Risk to attempt this,

But even more of a Risk to stay as you are.

A Clueless Animal,

Circling with madness,

Held in a cage,

That you’re blind to see.

Yet The Door Is Ajar