Their Words, My Fault
Folks rage at me and vent,
For having in my head,
Instead of what they meant,
What actually was said.
Detractors
When slighted by pronouncement or exclusion,
You learn the one thing worse than disrespect,
Is handing your detractors the conclusion
That their behavior carries an effect.
Instant Gratification
A friend who’s worked decades at my old high school,
Quite sadly laments the diminishing tool
Some kids nowadays make of their education,
And focus on mere instant gratification.
They don’t want to learn, even get a good grade,
Just wrap up all work with the least effort made.
And shortcuts that folks used to have to get by,
Are nothing compared with the use of AI.
Those kids do not know they’re preparing to fail.
They think some quick bucks will be their Holy Grail,
But they will lack skills for whatever they seek,
Then finally learn something – their futures look bleak.
Selfish Drivers
They race all along the prohibited spaces
Surpassing the suckers in mere proper places.
Then swerve into traffic at just the last minute
Uncaring of risks posed to all who are in it.
That they break the law won’t affect what they do,
All that matters is they’re more important than you.
I am normally kind, but they trigger my ire,
So I would not mind if they blow a flat tire.
Russel Winick started writing poetry after ending a long legal career. He resides in Naperville, Illinois.
Russel, misinterpretation can be fun and desirable while not responding to detractors is undesirable. I believe it must be hard to teach the kids these days. Your selfish driver poem deserves my fondest praise. Your wit and wisdom poems are the same my mind can see. Your perfect sense of humor is one that’s made for me.
Then I’m in very good company. Thank you, Roy!
These might be called “grumpy old man” poems — the sort of grouchy complaints that we all emit after passing the age of 70. But these ones are cute and memorable.
The first is a perfect squib about how persons may misunderstand what you have said, and get annoyed and testy. The second is about what should be the proper response to slight or disrespect, and here the poet advises calmness, silence, or non-response. That’s one way of handling the matter, though I would advise instead that you return fire massively with a broadside. Most people don’t expect that, and are taken aback. But then again, I’m from Noo Yawk.
“Instant Gratification” is quite correct about what goes on in most schools today, whether preparatory or university level. Almost every submitted paper is AI-generated, and most students simply want to get through their four years as easily as possible, receive the credential of a diploma, and try to make money.
“Selfish Drivers” sounds like the account of a personal experience with these drivers. They won’t change at all, but it is comforting to think that some day, eventually, they will be creamed in a bad accident.
Thank you Professor, for these enjoyable critiques, especially regarding “Instant Gratification,” where you’ve taught me that the problem is even worse than I had thought.
Russel, how naughty of you to wish someone a flat tire! Funny, nevertheless. Just this morning, I witnessed one of those drivers. They passed me the minute they got a chance along the roadway’s dotted line. No problem, I’ve passed cars myself; when I came to the end of the road, however, that same car was right in front of me, so they gained nothing.
Here in Chicago they drive on shoulders and in construction areas, and swerve dangerously into traffic just when they run out of illegal space. Of course, the few minutes they save are critical to society, since they are Very Important People. Thanks, Cheryl!
“Selfish Drivers” gets a chefs kiss! It’s perfection!
Thanks Briana. See my comment to Cheryl immediately above. All decent folks hate those drivers, but they keep doing it, because they can.
Really, Russel, how unreasonable of you to interpret people’s words literally — do you really expect them to mean what they say? (just joking:))
I think your strategy with detractors is wise: silence is often the best (and most effective) answer.
I have definitely seen and experienced many more bad drivers recently than I every encountered when I first learned to drive. I hypothesize that the advent of cell phones ( I just recalled that some of us used to call them “car phones” at first) has something to do with some of the bad behavior, though not the specific ones mentioned in your poem.
Thanks — all of these are very enjoyable.
Thanks Cynthia — I’m glad you liked them. And thanks for reminding me of the old phrase “car phones”!