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On blowing my clogged stuffed up nose

some topics might best
be left unwritten about
no matter such
bodily functions important,
which any anonymous reader
may willingly agree,
and mere moments ago
an aha moment occurred,
when I happened to take a tissue
to my button nose
and blew into the tissue,
and felt a clump
(or wad) of phlegm exit,
which brought immediate relief
and brings to mind one of the most
glorious and heavenly blessings
experienced by this earthling,
and times gone by yours truly
did attempt to communicate
posting poems about the painful ordeal
not able to go to the bathroom
to excrete despite digesting
an entire bottle of Dulcolax liquid,
nursing a bowl of stewed prunes,
nearly (nay - actually)
urinating in my pants
since the once legendary ability
to withhold ready
to explode bladder
to release involves
a coordinated process
where the bladder fills
with urine produced
by the kidneys,
triggers nerve signals
when full (around 150-400 mL),
and causes the brain
to contract the muscular bladder wall
while relaxing the sphincter muscles
allowing, enabling and providing
urine to exit through the urethra
almost as ecstatic after defecating
from feeling constipated,
(which by the way)
also describes the state
of my lower gastrointestinal tract,
yet obviously there exists
something unanimously gross
delineating waste byproducts
that many if not most
living organisms must expel
lest beings perish from
the realm of the living
linkedin to obstruction of toxins,
and now four instances will be cited
when impossible mission
to poop arose -
oh and by the way
common synonyms
for bowel obstruction include
intestinal obstruction, ileus
(especially for non-mechanical issues
like paralytic ileus
or pseudo-obstruction),
volvulus (twisting),
or intussusception (telescoping),
depending on the specific type
and cause of blockage,
with general terms
like "blockage" also used,
and now without further delay
(drum roll please)
to cue specimen number one;
the person known
as the "Balloon Man"
(often identified as J.W.)
had his 9-foot-long mega-colon
on display at the Mütter Museum,
he died in 1892 at age 29
from severe chronic constipation
and bowel obstruction,
with his colon containing
40 pounds of fecal matter,
a condition he endured
known as congenital
aganglionic mega-colon,
or Hirschsprung’s disease,
and occurs when nerve cells
in part of the colon
fail to develop
and make difficult circumstance
for waste to move to the rectum
(aganglionic means
“without nerve cells”;
person number two,
whose sightings still claimed
Elvis Presley, the most famous person
known to have died
while on the toilet,
passing away on August 16, 1977,
at his Graceland home
due to a heart attack
likely caused by straining,
thirdly Lisa Marie Presley (2023):
Died at age 54
from a small bowel obstruction,
a known, long-term,
and rare complication
of bariatric surgery,
and the fourth
and final individual of note
whose demise linkedin
to inability to successfully
exercise two main sphincter muscles,
the internal and external anal sphincters,
are actively involved
in the process of pooping
(defecation) for they control
the passage of stool,
acting together to maintain continence
and allowing for
the voluntary release of waste,
Maurice Gibb (2003):
Passed away at 53
due to a bowel obstruction
called volvulus,
where the intestine twists.

About This Poem

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

About the Author

Region, Country: PA, USA

Favorite Poets: Robert Burns, Charles Dickens, Robert Frost, Matthew Scott Harris, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sylvia Plath, Gary Snyder, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman

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neopoet

neopoet

2 months 3 weeks ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

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

This poem undertakes an ambitious and unconventional exploration of bodily functions, weaving personal experience with medical and historical references. The stream-of-consciousness style and the extended, almost encyclopedic detail create a unique texture, but this approach also presents challenges for poetic cohesion and emotional resonance.

Strengths to consider:

1. **Inventive Subject Matter**: The poem confronts topics often considered taboo or unpoetic, which can be a powerful way to challenge readers’ expectations and expand the boundaries of poetic subject matter.

2. **Integration of Medical Detail**: The inclusion of specific medical terminology and historical anecdotes lends an unusual depth and specificity, grounding the poem in real-world facts and inviting reflection on mortality and the human body.

Areas for development:

1. **Structural Clarity and Pacing**: The poem reads as a long, continuous flow without clear breaks or shifts in tone. Introducing stanzas or sections could help organize the content, allowing readers to digest the transitions from personal relief to medical history more smoothly.

2. **Tone and Voice Consistency**: The poem oscillates between intimate, almost confessional moments and detached, clinical descriptions. Clarifying the intended tone—whether humorous, contemplative, or didactic—and maintaining it more consistently could strengthen the poem’s impact.

3. **Emotional Engagement**: While the poem provides detailed information, it could benefit from deeper emotional insight or metaphorical language to connect the physical experiences to broader human themes such as vulnerability, relief, or the fragility of life.

4. **Line Economy and Focus**: Some lines feel overly prosaic or explanatory, which can dilute the poetic effect. Consider trimming or rephrasing to emphasize imagery, rhythm, and evocative language rather than straightforward exposition.

5. **Use of Repetition and Sound**: The poem might gain from more deliberate use of repetition, rhyme, or alliteration to create musicality and reinforce key ideas or emotions.

Overall, the poem’s originality is notable, but refining its structure, tone, and language could enhance its readability and emotional resonance, transforming a factual narrative into a more compelling poetic experience.

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