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Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson (R-La.) the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. A Republican representing Louisiana's 4th Congressional District, he was first elected to the position on October 25, 2023, following the removal of Kevin McCarthy. Johnson was re-elected to the position at the start of the 119th Congress in January 2025.
Speaker of the House
without her presence,
she left an amplified
vacuum quiet as a mouse
with a craving for Melba Toast
and Manischewitz.
At long last our Bubala (or bubaleh/bubele)
a Yiddish term of endearment meaning
often used by older family members,
particularly grandmothers,
to express affection
toward children or loved ones,
which literally translates
to "little doll" or "little girl)."
Amazon Alexa Echo
came back her exploits
to mama and papa
with rip roaring assiduity,
(as if she happened to be chased)
gratuity, apologized for her unintentional
longinquity perspicuity, propinquity
and suddenly, I felt on top of world
where super tramping
sonic sounds didst issue forth
analogous to a cheap trick
courtesy from the likes
of bone crushing
and earth splitting blasts
by George thoroughly good
and bad to the bone bad a$$ bands
from the likes of
Black Sabbath and Metallica
shatter the deathlike silence
with their cacophony
bashing, fracturing, and nixing
not only the airwaves
but also violently assaulting
the delicate constituent parts of ear
which happens to be divided
into three main parts:
the outer ear (collects sound),
middle ear (amplifies sound),
and inner ear (converts sound
to nerve signals and controls balance),
the key structures include the pinna,
ear canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum),
ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes),
cochlea, semicircular canals,
and auditory nerve,
and aside from finding
one stone temple pilot
hard of hearing, nevertheless
he experienced being
hypnotized as one rapt listener
while he didst egg gone eyes
hashing out a poem in general
and the one thee be reading
this one in particular
jump/kick starting
creative healthy juices
trying his darnedest
(except when he gets needled)
to eke out surviving,
(albeit barely - and then
just by the skin
of his indentured teeth,
and the hairs of his chinny chin chin)
receiving monthly electronic deposits
courtesy social security
to stay financially afloat
within the shark infested muddy waters
and now in the same breath in conjunction
sustaining an unexpected costly Temu fixation
courtesy the spouse,
a sudden unexpected
fast diminishing (to a vanishing point of no return)
mine feeble monetary resources
affecting one wordsmith
who got a late start spinning
sophomoric snippy snappy supple stanzas
more apropos of a youngster -
such as a kindergartner
versus me just striving to garner attention
from an anonymous reading audience
with the advantage
of a Progressive Nationwide
Travelers on his side
where this gecko
(and as a defensive driver)
claim an added bonus
due to a clean driving record
with only a small number of accidents,
(and only yours truly killed
for the umpteenth time,
but most times death be not proud
now worn as a red badge of courage)
within nearly a half century
as a licensed practical driver
nursing, tapping, and zapping
videlicet safely maneuvering
car-a-pace borrowed or bought vehicles,
and playing chauffeur
since I wedded (almost
three decades ago) unbridled spouse,
who can be quite the back seat driver.
About This Poem
Last Few Words: speaker of the house applied in a unique matter, but a phunny one nevertheless.
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
2 weeks ago
Neopoet AI [2025-04]
The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:
This poem presents a sprawling, associative meditation that moves through personal history, cultural references, and sensory experience, all framed by the title "Speaker of the House." The title initially suggests a political focus, but the poem quickly diverges into intimate and eclectic territory, which can be intriguing but also risks losing the reader’s thread.
Strengths: - The poem’s rich layering of imagery—from Yiddish terms of endearment to detailed anatomy of the ear—demonstrates a wide-ranging curiosity and a desire to connect disparate elements. - The use of sound and music references (Black Sabbath, Metallica, Stone Temple Pilots) effectively evokes a sensory atmosphere, underscoring the theme of auditory experience. - The candid reflections on aging, financial precarity, and family life add emotional depth and authenticity.
Areas for development: 1. **Focus and coherence:** The poem’s sprawling nature makes it challenging to discern a central throughline. Consider tightening the thematic focus or using clearer structural markers to guide the reader through the shifts in subject matter. 2. **Title relevance:** The title "Speaker of the House" sets up expectations that the poem does not straightforwardly fulfill. If the political figure mentioned at the start is meant to be ironic or symbolic, clarifying that connection could strengthen the poem’s impact. 3. **Line breaks and pacing:** The poem’s dense, run-on lines sometimes hinder readability. Experimenting with varied line lengths and strategic breaks could enhance rhythm and emphasize key images or ideas. 4. **Language and diction:** The poem mixes elevated vocabulary (e.g., "perspicuity," "videlicet") with colloquial phrases and playful rhymes. While this can create a distinctive voice, balancing these registers more consistently might improve clarity and tone. 5. **Imagery and metaphor:** Some images, such as the ear anatomy, read more like exposition than poetic metaphor. Finding ways to integrate such details more organically or symbolically could deepen their resonance.
Overall, the poem’s ambition and candidness are notable, but refining its focus and form will help the reader engage more fully with its layered meanings.
Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact
Geezer
1 week 6 days ago
Yeah...
the list of ear parts, didn't really get funny; it just gave me a list of places that might have something wrong with the stoned temple pilot's hearing. Good breakfast read. ~ Geez.