yes, I know I’m a bad boy <br />mothers told their kids: <br />don’t talk to that boy <br />he thinks too much and <br />is thin and lean and smiles too often <br />and such boys are dangerous; <br />and later, dads told their daughters: <br />don’t even talk to that boy <br />he says there’s no one more equal <br />or anyone less <br />and he says except for the law of the land <br />he knows no other authority <br /> <br /> <br />yes, I know I’m a bad boy <br />and wives told their husbands: <br />stay away from that man <br />he asks too many questions; <br />he’s got a complex; <br />he thinks he’s Socrates <br />and writes verse that just gets worse each day; <br />and anyway <br />what sort of men write verse but <br />the lazy, the irresponsible the losers <br />and those who can’t make money in any way? <br />those who just hang around in the marketplace <br />like that old man from Athens <br />who did nothing <br />but question and inquire <br /> <br /> <br />and of course I expect there might <br />be a little voice <br />in many a heart and head <br />that says <br />as I pass by: <br />stay away from this guy <br />for he’s such a bad boy; <br />he relinquishes clichés <br />and revels in strange phrases; <br />he recognizes no authority <br />and throws all text out <br />and says words do not make clear <br />they only distort; <br />and even though he writes verse <br />there’s also an end to song and poetry, he says; <br />stay away from him, <br />he’s such a bad, bad boy<br /><br />Raj Arumugam<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/yes-i-know-i-m-a-bad-boy/
