The Appeal of Poetry Copyright © Richard J Whiting 2011

This is an appeal
On behalf of the
Royal Society For
The Protection of Poets.

Founded in East Coker
In the nineteen-thirties
To aid those
You see in offices
By coffee machines,
Water dispensers,
Skulking in corners
Unable to relate to
Last night’s television;
Or, the tragic cases
Of those who admit
The previous evening
To have read
Or (heaven protect us)
Written, a poem.

The Royal Society For
The Protection of Poets
Send their wardens in
To rescue those in need,
Tranquilising them
By reading large extracts
Of The Wasteland.

From here, they are taken
To the William McGonagall Home
For Bewildered Lyricists
Where you can see many
Species of poet;
The Long-Coated Sonneteer,
The Small Limerick,
The Velveteen Villanelle;
Though current funds
Do not stretch
To aiding the exponents
Of the Iambic Pentameter.

Here poets are not considered
For re-homing until
They can sit through a rendition
Of Fern Hill

Without weeping.
Potential new owners
Have their bookshelves assessed
For the comfort and nourishment
They will provide.

There are those
Who would put them down;
Have them all destroyed;
But then, poets are everywhere;
On Internet-Forums, Festivals, Workshops,
Even in rooms
Above Public Houses;

So please give generously.
Adopt a stray poet,
They make wonderful pets.