The Sassoon Collection
ix. Fight to our Finish
The bums came back. Pundits played and bites were flying.
The yearning journalists threshed the backlit words
To trash the warring brutes who’d refrained from agreeing
And hear the shuffled music of fizzled-out accords.
Of all the waste and nonsense they have brought
This moment is the lowest. (So we thought.)
Thumbing their noses to spite the other aisle
Shunning those that broke ranks with thoughts of a deal,
Making all attempts at representing utterly futile.
* * * * * *
I heard the yammering journalists grunt and squeal;
And with their trusting viewers turned and went
To rid us all of those who brazenly overspent.
— Zumwalt (2011)
zumpoems 
Comments on: "The Sassoon Collection: ix. Fight to our Finish" (13)
The yearning journalists threshed the backlit words
To trash the warriors who’d refrained from agreeing
And hear the shuffled music of fizzled-out accords.
Great musical language! Almost like jazz.
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The beat in this is wonderful. At first I had no idea what the poem was about, but reading deeper I figured it out. The words flow so well…
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I can hear music as your words move to the beat great writing… The more I read the more I drew analogies to our world wide financial problems? Well whether or not it is , it is a wonderful poem well worth the approval of Vidal himself. PTYP! xx
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I just finished watching Broadcast News, and then I read this, weird. If you’ve never seen it, you should really try to see it. It relates to this theme, while being an amazing screenplay.
You do a good job showing how the journalists weave in and out of reality, they aren’t really part of it, but they interject long enough to ask a question, and maybe cause some damage with their presence.
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Great rhythm–wonderful poem. Journalists and pundits spin the yarn of politics with such fervor–makes for great entertainment–if you can separate the truth from the lies.
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oh i like the fine rhymes in this walt…
And hear the shuffled music of fizzled-out accords.
Of all the waste and nonsense they have brought
This moment is the lowest. (So we thought.)…love this… and oh these journalists…they can do good and they can harm badly..think i have a kinda love/hate relationship with them..think we couldn’t make it without them..when i think of those going to countries in war, risking their life for a story – somehow shake my head and somehow admire them..loved your poem
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mareymercy, kdoherty89, willowdot21, zongrik, Lafemmeroar (great name!) and claudia,
Thanks all for reading and commenting! Greatly appreciated!
By the way everyone should visit claudia’s site to catch her reading one of her poems: http://jaywalkingthemoon.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/open-links/
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Fight to our finish – it begins to look that way. I love this poem – you have said it all! I also love the innovative rhyming – aisle, futile, and maybe deal in there, too, the yearning journalists – good job!
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Monica,
Thanks very much for reading and your comments!
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It’s all been said! A great read.
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Edward,
Thanks much for reading and commenting!
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A masterpiece! Truly touching on the emotion of events unfolding before us, something that may eventually be as devastating to us as the fall of Rome. Your expert use of consonance just absolutely shines…….
bums-bites bites-flying Pundits-played
The-threshed yearning-journalists
trash-warriors refrained-agreeing
shuffled-music of-shuffled-fizzled
moment-lowest. brought-thought
Oh the poem just sings itself! The only thing that really caught me off guard was your use of the word “warriors,” which in most cultures is used as a term of great respect for someone who gallantly fights for an idea……. From the time of my first awareness of the workings of Congress when Richard Nixon was being roasted over the coals until now, I haven’t seen much gallantry coming out of Congress. But that is probably just due to my own cynical views……… Truly, again, another great poem……
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johnallenrichter,
Thanks for reading and a comment. Truly a perceptive remark on “warriors.” Will make sure Zumwalt sees your comment!
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