David Kavanagh Poet Free verse

Sentimentality

Oh the humanity 
the humanity 

Oh spare me the grief 
thy fake tears 
woe is me, mentality 
syrupy behaviour 
Munchausen propensity 
it sticks between my teeth 

Oh spare me the pathos
ham acting baloney
Phoney and pathetic 
pennyroyal tea fatigue 
Histrionic vagaries
self righteous piety

Oh spare me the maudlin 
attention seeking thievery 
Drowning in poignancy 
sentimental molasses 
Throw yourself to the floor 
overdosing in twee

Oh spare me forever 
stomach churning violins
emotional instability 
Wallowing in saccharine
exaggerated sob stories
But most of all 
the absence of apology 


Sentimentality Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Julia Ward
25/05/22

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Christopher Flaherty September 7, 2022 at 11:11 AM Just paged down and read this 1 Sir And instantaneously though I hope it won because it's an instant fave Well done Sir deserved congratulations David Kavanagh September 7, 2022 at 12:18 PM Thanks Christopher, was a good laugh writing this one, once it got going, I appreciate the Fave, was delighted with the win, I’m guessing you know a few of these people too, cheers David

Jeff Connelly June 18, 2022 at 10:05 AM Go figure David... You won. Congrats!!! Jeff Connelly June 18, 2022 at 4:27 PM Brag away!!!!!!! David Kavanagh June 18, 2022 at 10:47 AM Thanks Jeff you never had a doubt, I promise to skip on the bragging rights, cheers David

Sam Kauffman June 9, 2022 at 10:21 AM Congratulations on your win David! Your call for authentic feelings over "ham acting baloney" is superbly articulated. Wonderfully penned. David Kavanagh June 9, 2022 at 10:41 AM Heya Sam, thank you for stopping by, this one was just itching to come out, I have witnessed so much of this behaviour in people over the years, strange thing some seem to get worse with age rather than better, cheers David

Christuraj Alex June 6, 2022 at 6:16 AM Greatest of the three. "stomach churning violins" - Beautiful. Congratulations! David Kavanagh June 6, 2022 at 6:41 AM Thank you Chris, I know it’s pretty painful to read, and probably worse to listen too, thank you for congrats, cheers David

Terry Miller June 6, 2022 at 5:14 AM A brilliant, well-deserved win! David Kavanagh June 6, 2022 at 5:32 AM Heya Terry, thank you for stopping by, I’m delighted you enjoyed my sentimentality parody, I was delighted with the win, cheers David

Gary Radice June 5, 2022 at 12:48 PM I hate Britain's Got Talent too David. :) Well done. You nailed the brief. It's a great read. Cheers - Gary David Kavanagh June 5, 2022 at 1:02 PM Ha great comment, Spare me the brief Gary, I cannot sit in the same room if it’s on TV, even thinking about it is cringeworthy, thanks for stopping by, cheers David

Jenna Logan June 5, 2022 at 10:22 AM Cheers to you for winning this one, David!!! David Kavanagh June 5, 2022 at 10:41 AM Thank you Jenna, I’m delighted with the win, and I absolutely refuse to apologise for my grandiose delusional rant, lol, cheers David

Alexis Y. May 25, 2022 at 1:40 PM Hi David, You've penned a well write write on the contest theme. In fact, you hit the ball out of the park. Best wishes in the contest. Have a nice day-Alexis David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 1:46 PM Heya Alexis, if ones gonna do a poem on sentimentality, it’s best to do it with the same affected tone, so I just went for it with gusto, cheers David

Sotto Poet May 25, 2022 at 11:59 AM We agree on this issue, David. Sentimentality has an apparently tight connection with escapism ability. Many people are so upfront and deceitful that they look fake. David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 1:03 PM Absolutely Lasaad, that’s a very good point, a lot of these mental conditions are very closely related and indeed overlap, into new monsters altogether, I’m hoping that’s what Julia was looking for in the contest, cheers David

Jeff Connelly May 25, 2022 at 9:50 AM David. I will apologize before I write this comment jajaja. I love the cliche/not so cliche cliches. A favorite: "stomach churning violins". DON'T cry for me Argentina. I'm not sure about the "penyroyal tea fatigue"? I only know the usage of THAT plant as a means to create an abortion. BUT truly a tight poem. Starting WITH those OH SO famous Hindenburg words leading into Munchausen by proxy... WOW. SOLID. I know nothing about the contests here BUT surely THIS is a WINNER. Thanks David... David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 4:17 PM No pressure so Jeff! If I’ve learned anything on this site , it’s to expect the unexpected, probably be a few weeks before it’s judged, I don’t think I have written for Julia in her contests before, I’ll let you know how it goes, thanks again for stopping by, Cobain was a genius song writer, cheers David Jeff Connelly May 25, 2022 at 3:59 PM Thank you for the reply & THIS poem David. (Before I heard the Nirvana song I already knew the use of pennyroyal)...(as a side note: If you approach the entire In Utero album from a medical point of view IT becomes even more interesting). Just my thought. How will I know when you've won David? David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 11:29 AM Good to hear from you Jeff, I went all out on this one to mimic the sentimentality of the great pretenders, the pennyroyal tea fatigue line I used as a metaphor to those who make themselves ill by ingesting toxins, in order to gain sympathy and attention, besides I love that Nirvana song, thanks for such an uplifting comment and apology, cheers David

Jenna Logan May 25, 2022 at 7:02 AM I've never had respect for those who prostrate themselves in a 'poor me' scene. We're only victims if we play the part. Your pen has been guided by your great sense of recognizing fakery in people who do not deserve pity. Jenna Logan May 25, 2022 at 9:14 AM Almost pitifully sad, but I have trouble pitying people like that. David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 7:52 AM Heya Jenna, Sentimentality really borders on the prima donna theatrics, hamming it on for an unhealthy dose of appraisal, and to steal the limelight, don’t care if they offend real victims, or peoples intelligence, once they get some attention, how sad is that, cheers David

Tom Cunningham May 25, 2022 at 6:16 AM People like that get right up my nose, they're so false they're almost plastic. Well written David. Tom David Kavanagh May 25, 2022 at 6:28 AM Plastic indeed Tom, and will falsely hijack other peoples real misery, just to get a stage, and garner attention for their own selfish adoration, cheers David