Joe Flach Poet Free verse

Father and Son (Rhyme and Slam)

Watch me, young man, more intently this time 
I will teach you to write poetry with meter and rhyme
The way poems have been written for hundreds of years
With beauty and grace enough to bring you to tears

no disrespect meant old man
but throw that shtuff in the garbage can
i could duplicate byron if I wanted to
but I want to express a new attitude
some’n that’s free
come’n from me
not repeating crap from history
revolutionary
i wanta be bold
not simply do what i’m told
you’d understand if you weren’t so old

A poem should be written to express beauty and love
With words of wisdom inspired from our God above
When read aloud, the words from our lips should flow
And radiate our listener’s mind with an intellectual glow

that’s fine for you and your conservative crowd
but some things need to be expressed more loud
shouted from the street
not all pretty and neat
with a young man’s beat
don’t expect me to kiss your feet
i am not you
and you are not me
i don’t want you to change
actually, i accept you the way you are
why can’t you do the same
i think it’s a shame
my youth you blame
for wanting to express poetry in a different vain

Anger is not a healthy form of expression
Your poetry leads me deep into depression

you call it anger, 
to me its just passion
i like your poems 
but for me, they’re old fashion

I guess in the end, you are really just being my son
Following the path I taught you when all is said and done
I told you always to be true about whom you are
Go ahead son; use your own style to reach your star

i love you, dad

I love you, too, Son


(Inspired by, "The Controversy")

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Constance La France July 25, 2010 at 7:22 PM I think this is just wonderful, having the two perspectives in one poem ~ when some of those victorian poems where written way back when ~ they were considered very controversal ~ and look at them now ~ being taught in schools and poets trying to duplicate the beauty of them ~ well done

Andrea Dietrich July 25, 2010 at 5:57 PM Hey, this is really cool what you did here. It's true, slam is all about the new generation. Just like we had our hippy rebels (I sure was not that crowd either) I think in every age there is some form of rebellion going on with the young.But one thing stands strong thru the ages. With love we can conquer all, and bridge the generation gap, as your poem so nicely does at the end here. Luv, Andrea

Poet Destroyer A July 23, 2010 at 9:47 PM you are a hit Joe, i am still bragging about your contest entry ,,oh wait i have not finalized the contest just yet. But i am impressed once again,,Lol,,You are impressing many crowds around here. We could be fooled by the age, you do claim to be wise,, That is all, a wonderful father to son free verse. Enjoyed,..p.d.

Dr.Ram Mehta July 23, 2010 at 6:39 PM A brilliant light thrown over The Controversy. I appreciate it.

Jerry Dinzes July 23, 2010 at 10:39 AM Alright, Given the current 'controversy' I found this particularly moving. I'm hesitant to say it, because I am my father's son, but the last lines found a tear or two... Thank you for your contributions to the world of poetry!