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If Only I Could Respond

If only I could respond to this woman who shrieks Who knows so little about whereof she speaks, Belittles comments she so desperately seeks Her social and political rantings go on for weeks. I am amazed that her poetry is so ungrammatical We would all be better off if she took a sabbatical, Or spent her time in some more profitable pursuit Hasn’t she learned that most of us don’t give a hoot. Today she ignored all the facts and hit on vaccines Spewed more venom on our president, it seems, Took a few shots at the world situation in general Has nothing positive to say, it borders on criminal. I’ve noticed the recent absence of others of her ilk They seem to have wilted like early fall cornsilk, Apparently, folks like her do not fade with neglect Poetry Soup is best when everyone shows respect. Those poets who choose to share their beliefs Are welcome, great; hatred, however, offers no relief Putting down my country, my president, my politics With disrespect, I will respond to these lunatics. Written October 1, 2021 44th on Best 100 Poems of the Month Poetry Soup, October 3, 2021 POEM OF THE DAY October 2, 2021

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Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 10/21/2021 10:18:00 AM

Hi Milt. I stepped back from the PS site in April because I saw so many negative poems, pointing fingers, and political jabs. I'm all for our First Amendment, but really got tired of the negativity in the air. I've returned in hopes the atmosphere has turned more respectful. Great penning!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/21/2021 12:48:00 PM

Well, Linda, I'm not sure whether it has or not. I've learned who to read and who not to read, frankly. I'd say things are slowly improving, though, from my perspective. Thanks.

Karen Jones

Date: 10/19/2021 4:07:00 PM

Great poem! Congrats on potd

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/19/2021 6:57:00 PM

Thanks, Karen. I appreciate it.

Marikate Kingston

Date: 10/11/2021 8:22:00 PM

I hear ya' and I'm right there with you. So well said.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/11/2021 9:03:00 PM

Thank you so much, Marikate. I really appreciated your comment.

Curtis Johnson

Date: 10/9/2021 8:06:00 PM

I appreciate your response, Milton. Congrats on your POTD. Blessings.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/9/2021 8:09:00 PM

Thank you so much, Curtis. Sometimes we just have to let it out, don't we!

Rama Balasubramanian

Date: 10/3/2021 7:51:00 PM

Potd is based on algorithm. PS was down so the algorithm did not work. That's why you got it for two days. My guess. Even Potw did not change. Enjoy the spotlight

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/4/2021 9:58:00 PM

Rama, thanks so much. I figured as much. Glitches do appear on Poetry Soup, that's for sure.

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 10/3/2021 1:10:00 PM

Congratulations for your POTD.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 2:06:00 PM

Thanks so much, Victor. I appreciate your good will.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/3/2021 11:28:00 AM

So, if this isn't a 'response,' I'm not Prince Harry! (Soup mail, please. Thanks, gw).

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 12:12:00 PM

Oh, p.s., Gershon, You are a prince but you are definitely NOT PRINCE HARRY!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 12:10:00 PM

May I also add that she has lashed out in her poetry, stopping just short of mentioning names. She has most recently lashed out at a person she is angry at for his religious beliefs! I simply cannot defend this type of behavior and will not. I taught long enough to have absolutely no regard for bullying, insulting, and fractious behavior. But, I will respond,...period!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 12:08:00 PM

Gershon, it is the only type of "response" I can have since she has blocked me from contact with her. At the same time, she lashes out at me (and others) in her comments to other people, so we read them and have no rebuttal. I have read your Soup Mail and responded.

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 10/3/2021 10:23:00 AM

Congratulations Milton on your powerful POTD. Expressing what we believe, agree or disagree. But in a civilized manner, as per Soup.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 12:12:00 PM

Thank you, Sandra. I appreciate your well-considered response.

Jenna Logan

Date: 10/3/2021 10:20:00 AM

You may have written the first poem to get ‘Poem of Two Days’ ; )

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 12:15:00 PM

Really??? Well, I'm surprised. Jenna, I've received several Soup Mails on the subject...one is rather heartbreaking, because she has lashed out at this person for his religious beliefs! I'm glad, now, that I published this poem, especially if it makes it clear that Poetry Soup is no place for this kind of behavior. Sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire, and when it is the best thing to do, I'll light the match.

Christuraj Alex

Date: 10/3/2021 9:15:00 AM

Indeed, another beautiful and very powerful composition by a master poet. Congratulations!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 9:21:00 AM

Aw, Christuraj, you are too kind. I do appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

Joanna Daniel

Date: 10/3/2021 7:07:00 AM

Powerful write, Milton, congratulations on your POTD:)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 8:48:00 AM

Thanks so much, Jo. I appreciate your kind thoughts.

Harry Horsman

Date: 10/3/2021 2:16:00 AM

Here we go again, so sad we keep on having to fight against insults and bullying, Good one Milt, count me in on support of your efforts to get rid of this type of behaviour.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 10/3/2021 11:27:00 AM

John, I hear what you're saying loud and clear... Moreover, one person's venom-spew is another person's honey-dew... Good point you've made. :) gw

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 8:49:00 AM

Thank you so much, harry. I really appreciate your goodwill and your stand against "insults and bullying."

Harry Horsman
Date: 10/3/2021 5:11:00 AM

No they won't John, it an attitude thing.

John Lawless
Date: 10/3/2021 5:08:00 AM

my problem with "getting rid of" people is ...... sooner or later they'll get around to me....

Chris Conn

Date: 10/3/2021 2:16:00 AM

Polio (and many other diseases) have never been wiped out. False information (one must assume.) Onward all you crystal soldiers ...

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 2:18:00 PM

Chris, I'm afraid you're looking at a tree and missing the forest. But, that's okay. My polio information was not meant to be misleading. For the most part, polio has been wiped out." The issue here is insulting, harassing, and mean behavior toward other poets. These are simply not acceptable on Poetry Soup, period!

Rama Balasubramanian

Date: 10/2/2021 11:19:00 PM

Milton it is not a shame. Possibly the soup admin wanted your point to reach many. It was well deserved for it was powerful.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/3/2021 2:19:00 PM

Strange that it has been kept as Poem of the Day for two days! Rama. I wonder why?

Marilene Evans

Date: 10/2/2021 2:00:00 PM

Congratulations, Milt. I guess, you just reached that point, where you had enough... with this person (woman). Whatever, our beliefs (be vaccinated or not) can be expressed personally with regard and not in a bashing way if you are against it.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 4:37:00 PM

Marilene - Science (and my doctors) advised me to be vaccinated, so I do get rather annoyed by those who would cast aspersions on vaccinating. I've been being vaccinated since before I started to school in 1945, or so. As I recall, they were required, as were the polio vaccine (and so polio was effectively wiped out), so her diatribes against vaccination pretty well did it for me. Yep, I'd had enough. Thanks so much for your comment on my poem.

David Kavanagh

Date: 10/2/2021 1:02:00 PM

Congratulations Milton on potd, nothing criminal here, just an entertaining use of language, your poem rolls well, and deserves to be stood by, cheers David

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 2:01:00 PM

Thank, David. I really appreciate your comment and thanks, too, for the affirmation of the theme. She was out in full array again today.

Heidi Sands

Date: 10/2/2021 12:45:00 PM

No one should be bullying and bashing here. I hate to hear it is happening. I hope all is well :)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 12:53:00 PM

Thank you so much, Heidi, for your thoughtful response to my poem. It is happening here, but we should all speak out against it. This is no place for insulting and harassing behavior. Actually, no place is a place for this kind of behavior.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 10/2/2021 12:07:00 PM

Congratulations on your POTD win. Kids that are bullies and are Not stopped, turn into adults that are bullies. In life everyone should have/give respect. Have a blessed day................

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 12:11:00 PM

Thanks so much, Paula. I think you are absolutely right!

Joseph May

Date: 10/2/2021 11:56:00 AM

Congrats on POTD Milton, with this stinging response to whoever this person is..

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 12:12:00 PM

Thanks, Joseph. I guess you could say I'd had it with this woman. I would have replied to her personally, but she has me blocked.

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 10/2/2021 11:12:00 AM

Milton, came here to wish you congrats on receiving the potd honor... God bless... ~ Ani

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 12:13:00 PM

Thanks so much, Anitha. I appreciate your thoughts and well-wishes.

Ann Peck

Date: 10/2/2021 10:03:00 AM

Unfortunately, this is the way life is. There are always people who put others down thinking it will make themselves go up a notch. Bullies. Your poem is great. Maybe it will serve as a mirror in which they see themselves. We can hope. Congratulations on POTD!!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 10:33:00 AM

Oh, I would like to think she will read it, but I rather doubt it. I just wanted to make the case that PS is not the place for harassing, bullying, etc. I hope the poem succeeded. Thanks, Ann, for your thoughts.

Mike Gentile

Date: 10/2/2021 8:26:00 AM

Ole' Milton, congratulations on your POTD!!!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 8:38:00 AM

Thanks, Mike, for your comment. I really don't think my poem was P.O.T.D. quality (or what I think should be), but I am happy that it got my message out.

Rama Balasubramanian

Date: 10/2/2021 8:11:00 AM

A powerful poem to all those who put down others. Congratulations on your well deserved Potd. Enjoy the honour and day.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 8:40:00 AM

Rama, I appreciate your thoughts. It is truly a shame, though, that a poem on this theme should be P.O.T.D. when there are so many beautiful, expressive poems in new poems over the past week.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 10/2/2021 8:10:00 AM

Milton, congratulations on POTD! A wonderful message!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 8:41:00 AM

Thank you so much, Tania. I'm glad the poem is getting the attention it should have. I appreciate your thoughts.

Alexis Y.

Date: 10/2/2021 8:06:00 AM

Hi Milt, First of all, I want to say congratulations on getting the poem of the day. Anyone that belittles or bullies someone for different views and opinions isn't right, period. Have a great day and weekend- Alexis

L Milton Hankins
Date: 10/2/2021 8:41:00 AM

Thank you, Alexis. I certain agree with your sentiments and your comment. We don't need that sort of thing here on Poetry Soup.