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Bugger.

Would you care to buy our house?
It's minus mouse n devoid o' louse,!
spiders, roaches, bugs or other
have all been eaten by my brother,
snaffled up n swallowed down
then jus' crapped out a - yellowish brown.

so would you care to buy our house?
from an oddly pair -- devoid o' nous.

Obi.

About This Poem

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: int'topfield, GBR

Favorite Poets: Felix Dennis, Brian Bilston,

More from this author

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neopoet

neopoet

3 months 3 weeks ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem uses a conversational, colloquial tone that creates a vivid and somewhat humorous narrative voice. The casual diction ("jus'", "n", "snaffled") adds character and immediacy, though it may also challenge some readers’ comprehension or disrupt the flow depending on their familiarity with such speech patterns.

The poem’s central image—the brother consuming pests and then excreting a “yellowish brown”—is striking and earthy, evoking a visceral reaction. This choice grounds the poem in a raw physicality that contrasts with the traditional idea of a house as a pristine, desirable commodity. The repetition of “would you care to buy our house?” frames the poem as a kind of sales pitch, but one that reveals the less appealing realities beneath the surface.

The rhyme scheme is irregular but present, with some rhymes (“louse”/“house”, “brown”/“nous”) that lend a playful musicality. However, the final word “nous” (meaning common sense or intelligence) may be unfamiliar to some readers, potentially disrupting the poem’s accessibility. Its use in the closing line to describe the sellers as “devoid o’ nous” cleverly undercuts their credibility and adds a layer of self-deprecating humor.

To strengthen the poem, consider clarifying or refining the imagery around the brother’s actions to balance shock value with deeper metaphorical resonance. The poem could also benefit from more consistent rhythm or line breaks that enhance its oral quality. Additionally, exploring the emotional or symbolic significance of the house and its inhabitants might deepen the poem’s thematic impact beyond the immediate humor and grotesqueness.

Overall, the poem presents a distinctive voice and a memorable scenario but could be developed further to enhance clarity, rhythm, and thematic depth.

Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact

Lavender

Lavender

3 months 2 weeks ago

Bugger.

Hello, Obi!

Sold!  Just clean up that yellowish-brown stuff, please...

Really enjoyed this one - charming in its witty way.

Thank you!

L