The Tragedy of Albert E

LOL Forgive me for trying not to die one more innovative individual unknown in his own lifetime.

Aside from emphatically lacking the power of eternity, you have a bizzare and ineffective way of showing your pity. In reality, I see far beyond my pen, beyond monetary fish guts, beyond race, beyond the die roll of chance, and beyond quite a bit more. I have however, as is the trend of the time for moral and intelligent people, not been over-fortunate. Frankly, there's nothing rational or decent I could say that would be a response to your comments.

Basically, Misisipi is fostering a TV Court atmosphere, not a thoughtful forum. Occasionally bringing pieces of my work to the attention of the ABC tales community is no rudeness. I did so in the hope that somebody might benefit from and appreciate them. If nobody responds to a post, it fades away. Now in response to your personal comments, I'll point out that over the years numerous people(including the site editors) have excitedly brought up my work on this very forum. Secondly, Shakespeare would often spell the same word three ways in one play. While I don't try to follow suit, precise spelling is not exactly the soul of creativity.

As for my choices in punctuation and capitalization, I do know the standard rules; I have a B.A. in English and Literature from Southern Oregon University. As far as following the poetry of other members of my e-communities, I've been far from perfect. However, when somebody shows a consistent interest in my poetry, I always read and try to dig some of theirs... almost always with success. Then I have huge gratitude for everyone who makes ABC Tales possible. SALAWM (arabic for peace)

Well, Epicurus is a rather misunderstood thinker, and one whose ideas I feel are extremely relevant to this age. He was not an advocate of immoderate pleasure. Perhaps above all, he recommended thoughtful retreat from the mainstream world. This was my reference: A person with Einstein's abilities could have made a quiet, productive way in the world without sharing dangerous ideas with a society unready to peacably mangage them. a.b., no disrespect, but I didn't make this post for TV court entertainment. I simply wanted to share a piece of literature which I labored to create. Salawm (arabic for Peace)

ArcherGirl, having many Saudi friends at Portland State University, I'm aware of the correct pronunciation of their word for "Peace." I'm also aware that the quickest way to impart an approximate pronunciation to a reader is: "Salawm" Now, how about them Dodgers, or the price of rabbit feed in Bangladesh, or... that poem about Einstein?

I'm not going to respond to inquiries from people who call me things like "self-centred," though otherwise I'd be happy to. For the record, I have flagged a number of poems, including one by Archergirl, and rebuffed an individual who often flagged mine when he he made an anti-semitic comment(I'm not Jewish.) If you look at my writing with an open mind, you'll see that much of it is very thoughtful, carefully crafted, and joyously reflects the spirit of this age's youth. And of course, some of it's slapdash, mediocre, etc. I will, as Poetjude's been nice enough, comment on why I gave Newton a capital and not Aristotle. I basically try to reserve capitals for emphasis, as I believe Dickensen did in the actual manuscripts. A key-board is too limited an instrument of expression to follow restrictions on its use. In my opinion, requiring the active thought of the reader is just what separates poetry from prose... though of course that's a matter of degree, not nature. So my not capitalizing Aristotle isn't any sort of dismissal of an intellectual who's had a mammoth impact on the world. Incidentally, though, the now obscure Epicurus was more renowned among the ancient Greeks and with myself. Though I don't admire Newton, I feel he looms large as a symbol of laboratory-limited science and wanton technocracy. Salaawm, Sean

You're all mis-understanding me... but thankfully, some of you are doing so in a Civilized, intelligent way! "I'm well aware" should be my motto. I'm aware that I flagged my own poem and this isn't high etiquette. I'm also aware that this is a public forum where random people say whatever they feel like. I could do the same, subtly or directly. But why? I simply want to share beautiful and Peaceful poetry. I take creating my poetry seriously... and I've found Numerous readers on numerous websites. I write poetic, political letters to the editors of various newspapers; For the latter, I've made my way onto the Bush administration's no-fly list, though I've never mentioned violence. And if I'm a little self-promotional, I'm not an egotist talking to hear my own voice. I'm for re-distributing wealth around the world, getting back to nature, and Cultivating peace and humaternity whenever possible. I'm just one poetic wave in the great Rising tide of liberty! I don't work in a bank and spend my days obeying some authoritarian, or spend ten minutes picking out a fashionable outfit. I'm a wild Man and I'm comfortable with this! I read and write poetry that engages me with the world... not protects me from it. I just lived in rural Thailand for six months, feasting and living with farmers and fisher-folk. If I were in England, I'd be paling around with cockneys and working people. So basically, in response to all this criticism: I Don't Care!!

"Mr. America's next greatest writer?" You said it; I sure as heck never did. I'm very happy with what I've accomplished in creative writing; It's been a long path of hard work. I don't want fame or riches; I just wanna chill in the garden with the good Samaritan epicureans. But I really get disgusted with how slow so many people are to open their hearts and minds! That's why all these people like Buddha, Christ, and Socrates have been necessary. It's why mythology is full of dragons hoarding jewels, because people don't want to admit that it's they who pass Lazarus every day. As Jes. said, it's the inside of the cup that should be kept clean, not the outside. As Bob Marley said, "we should really love each other, instead we're fussing and fighting, like we ain't supposed to do." And I don't care what you call me. It's petty, meaningless. Pigeons will shat and dogs will have their day.

"You're an egotistical fucking bore." - Misisipi "The more he tries to explain himself, the more he gives the impression that he's a strereotypical American deluded buffoon." - bukharin etc. "Dear me you yanks really do have your heads so incredibly far up your own arses, ... his writing, punctuation etc is shit!" - saggyhair Talk about some eloquent, cultured one-liners. I would never judge the English people by this bullocks. The only reason I've even been wasting my energy on this thread is that I'm ill and housebound... and thus have time on my hands. Thanks, Archergirl, for your kind words on a thread where I'm so unpopular; It shows character. As Ghandi encouraged, I've given up the need to defend myself. "I" am not of much importance. What importance my writing has stems from the lessons I've labored to learn, like a fisherman or a milk-maid, from the larger world, and from the long labor of word-smithing. I leave you with an old African proverb: "When the grass is cut, the snakes will show." The same goes for tossers.