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Malfeasance of my money
which perpetrators most likely find quite funny
Super bastards and sons of bitches wantonly deceive
easily earning the sobriquet nefarious charlatans heave
vainly doing devilish deeds done dirt cheap and leave
a broke bloke (such as writer of these words)
whereby he doth perceive
sudden horror and nothing short of a cyber thieve.
Donald Coons and Philip Stevens
pose as legitimate senior
customer service representative/
relation officers who
(may be savvy with accredited learning) apply
a misleading electronic address as follows -
onlineservices.citizensalert@gmail.com,
but any resemblance
between said imposters
and gurus of bonafide money world
and living person purely coincidental,
(who may sport countless other aliases
possibly one and the same individual),
whom thee dear reader
may have unfortunately encountered online
bank on hoodwinking with tricks of their trade
deserve to get their just desserts,
and finds me referencing the comedy duo
of Laurel and Hardy ofttimes incorporating
their most iconic
and frequently used catchphrase:
"Well, here's another nice mess
you've gotten me into!"
and said tagline describes to a Tee,
how yours truly felt after dealing
with the aforementioned individuals
I consider scoundrel(s).
Upon inquiring at Citizens Bank headquarters
none of the head honchos
within the upper echelons of management
recognized above broached names,
nevertheless I derive pleasure
courtesy character assassination
ennobling nasty, brutish and short
(a famous quote
from Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan,
where he describes life
in a hypothetical
"state of nature" without government)
fiends able, eager and ready
to bleed financially dry
with bluster any individual
that can be manipulated
to believe that apothegm
if something seems too good to be true
then most likely sinister motives
figuratively trod underfoot.
The technique to incorporate
hook, line and sinker
falsely claiming that a username
or password warrant immediate attention
(as applies to the sensitive
and delicate nature of checking
and/or savings account information)
which figurative foxes in sheep's clothing
will be more than eager
to resolve said "false" glitch
by surrendering such sensitive data
to these self proclaimed Messiahs.
I feel dumbfounded
not only at the crass chicanery
to dupe me,
(who rarely questions the blunt request
to acquire sensitive data
such as passwords
or even sending a copy
of a debit card)
barely giving second pause
at the sheer chutzpah
of derelicts to rob yours truly
of his measly money,
but also chide myself
for being so oblivious
to "red flags"
such as a supposedly
"fake" Citizens Bank employees
emailing me at all hours
of the day and night
inveigling one poor sucker
to relinquish (analogous to keys
of a safe being willingly handed over
without deliberation, hesitation,
petification, and trepidation),
and wonder when
will I ever learn
to be more perspicacious
to now self evident truths
about the wily wicked ways
of scam artists totally
adrip with malicious motives,
which as an aside require me
to update all the merchants
(not necessarily of Venice)
and vendors linkedin
to the compromised debit card.
Adieu from: Matthew Harris
About This Poem
Last Few Words: egads! i hope not to jeopardize my existence by being a poetic whistleblower.
Style/Type: Free verse
Review Request Direction:
What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft
Comments
neopoet
1 month 1 week ago
Neopoet AI [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem undertakes a complex and detailed narrative about financial fraud and personal vulnerability, employing a formal and somewhat archaic diction that contrasts with the modern subject matter. The use of elevated language and references, such as Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan and classical expressions ("perspicacious," "apothegm"), adds a layer of intellectual engagement but may also create a distance between the reader and the emotional core of the experience.
Strengths: - The poem’s voice is distinctive, blending a legalistic or bureaucratic tone with personal lamentation, which effectively conveys frustration and betrayal. - The extended metaphor of scammers as “foxes in sheep’s clothing” and the vivid imagery of “keys of a safe being willingly handed over” powerfully illustrate the speaker’s sense of violation. - The inclusion of specific names and the email address grounds the poem in a real-world context, enhancing its immediacy. - The allusion to Laurel and Hardy’s catchphrase introduces a touch of dark humor, which helps to temper the heaviness of the subject.
Areas for development: - The poem’s syntax and punctuation are often unconventional, which can impede clarity. For example, the frequent use of parentheses and enjambment sometimes disrupts the flow and makes the narrative harder to follow. Consider streamlining sentence structures to improve readability without sacrificing the poem’s formal tone. - The elevated diction, while intellectually engaging, may alienate some readers. Balancing this with moments of simpler, more direct language could increase emotional resonance. - The poem’s length and density might benefit from more deliberate pacing. Breaking it into smaller stanzas or sections could help emphasize key moments and allow the reader to absorb the narrative more fully. - Some phrases feel redundant or overly elaborate (“scoundrel(s),” “self proclaimed Messiahs,” “crass chicanery”). Tightening the language would sharpen the poem’s impact. - The poem concludes with a practical note about updating merchants and vendors, which, while authentic, shifts abruptly from the poetic tone. Integrating this detail more seamlessly or reflecting on its emotional significance could strengthen the ending.
Overall, the poem offers a thoughtful and intricate exploration of deception and personal loss. Focusing on clarity, pacing, and emotional accessibility will enhance its effectiveness and connection with readers.
Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact
Geezer
1 month 1 week ago
Is this...
still or a new episode? I appreciate your efforts to enlighten us about scams and cautionary tales.
[I do hope that you haven't been victimized again], ~ Geez.
.