Jocelyn has chided me saying “Why do you post poetry that is not your own? Rather you post poems by others. It is their words that ornament the paintings you post and not your own and yet you also have words.”

Well, the intent of her comment was the same if not the actual phraseology. I response to her (and what brother could refuse a younger sister, really?) I post here Not My Worst Poem by William Tomkinson. It is actually called Monument and it is inspired by reading a book of poetry by Montreal writer Louis Dudek.

Approach now and read for these are my words:

Monuments

Monuments are puzzles
That try to convince
That there was past civic energy
Industriousness, equity
In that they raised these Colossus’.

Find me one then
Uncorrupted by
Flattery, vain blood,
Fatal power, or oppressive
Fervent religion.

Or that are born of wealth
And for that are
Boasts of stone and steel
Patron and pomp to chiseling artists,
Now nothing in our minds.

So many plinths and pillars
A congealing scab
over the wounds of war
Garlands of grief
Like and Arch Triumphant

Still, struck still am I
By a limestone edifice
Standing in beauty
And making a mockery
Of the crumbled bones of its builder.

William Tomkinson 2000 (ish)