I’m not much of a one for contentious language, hence the asterisks. I think you’ll know what I mean.
Against fracking (Photo credit: Bosc d’Anjou)
Say it as you will
Fracking seems to me
To be
A cross between
F***ing and sh**ging
They insert gas into cracks
And then blow rocks up
Say it as you will
Fracking seems to me
To be
A cross between
F***ing and sh**ging
Polly Robinson © 2012
27/12/2012 at 18:34
Well, this one certainly gets the attention. And I can’t argue with your logic.
27/12/2012 at 18:35
An awful word for an awful process …
27/12/2012 at 18:39
Agreed.
27/12/2012 at 19:58
Oh dear – my poems must often offend with their lack of asterisks! lol. Sorreeeee….
And yes, “fracking” is a peculiar word…. I hear what you’re saying with this!
27/12/2012 at 20:04
heh-heh … no offence to me m’dear … but you never know !)
28/12/2012 at 01:35
Language is an interesting topic – probably more for discussion other places than here. I think, as writers, we all take our own choices as to what we feel is appropriate in our own work and for the audience we’d hope to attract. Like what is character-appropriate in a novel or film and what is gratuitous (and I know we’ve talked about that!).
If anyone was ever offended by my work then they have a choice to speak to me about what troubles them (or indeed not read it in future). I’d like to hope I’d be sensitive about anyone’s feelings.
On a lighter note, I’m guessing this one is not for spoken word then?
28/12/2012 at 08:05
Def not for spoken word ~ I totally agree, language is a fascinating topic, I could go on about it for hours (!)
I believe that some people might make contact if they were offended and that some would vote with their feet and not bother with any explanation. I also think that even asterisked words can offend some ~ and would not wish to do that ~ but it’s the language that led to the poem in this instance, so I couldn’t do without those specific words!
Thanks for your thoughts, Holly
28/12/2012 at 19:28
Oh yeah – I agree, people do indeed vote with their feet. And that’s their prerogative – we are all entitled to our opinions, and I recognise that I am unlikely to be a poet to always appeal to those who are easily offended. We can’t please all of the people all of the time… as the saying goes. However, words are only effective if used in an appropriate context: certain of my poems simply don’t work without them – for my own work, euphemisms or asterisks would lose the character voice. But of course, that’s just my work and we all have our differing styles which are equally valuable.
But I do find it offensive when people put words and images in seemingly randomly or for shock value – “Ooooh let’s all swear cos it’s big and clever and edgy!” – that’s just lazy writing. And we none of us want to write or read that!
28/12/2012 at 19:33
Funny, but off the top of my head, I can’t think of any offensive words that I’ve noted in your poetry ~ which must mean that anything potentially offensive is not because it’s used in context.
29/12/2012 at 14:30
That’s the idea – and thankfully (for you at least) it’s working!
I do have a fair few effs and suchlike…
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28/12/2012 at 14:17
Agreed this fracking thing is DISGUSTING!!!! I Wish we could get off the grid.
28/12/2012 at 14:32
It’s dangerous too … anything that interferes with nature to the extent that it causes earthquakes cannot be good.
28/12/2012 at 14:56
I know right! And it pollutes the ground and water. I mean we have technology. If we can gather a country to make war machines we most certainly can gather everyone to make green energy! All this pisses me off.
28/12/2012 at 16:33
So many people agree …
28/12/2012 at 22:09
Did you ever watch Gas Land?
28/12/2012 at 22:11
I’ve not heard of Gas Land, Jasmine … what’s it about?
28/12/2012 at 22:18
It’s a documentary you can see Trailer HERE:
28/12/2012 at 22:44
OMG, Jasmine, that is horrendous!
Thank you for sharing.
28/12/2012 at 23:41
Yeah!!!
07/01/2013 at 09:16
I love this. The repetition is really strong, like Stein’s “a rose is a rose is a rose” and then the middle bit is great: It seems to say: “It’s as simple as that, get it, stooped!” Really well done Polly, thanks for this. (Just watched that trailer and saw the guy lighting his water tap: How scary is that?!)
07/01/2013 at 13:25
That video is so scary, ‘eh, Roland? I didn’t realise how widespread this process is … had no idea that it’s going on all over Europe.
Thanks for commenting on the structure of the poem ~ good that you found it of interest. Even a few words of protest can add to all the other voices decrying and deploring fracking.
09/01/2013 at 20:45
I love this poem!! It made me laugh! Now – at the risk of being contentious- I would love to hear this in the spoken word. I think it would be a shocking as the fracking process!
09/01/2013 at 20:50
Steady … Steady now, Alex …
How lovely to see you here this evening. Thank you for all the lovely comments and for taking the time to visit and read my poetry.
09/01/2013 at 21:04
After a few vodka and tonics – maybe
Dare you!!
09/01/2013 at 22:04
After you.
09/01/2013 at 22:07
Living life on the edge! I once had to interpret some swear words into sign language in a lecture – I still remember the shocked faces! Hehehe!!
09/01/2013 at 22:10
heh-heh … we know how to live …