Have you heard about the scandal over a poem that has been erased from a university facade in Berlin?

Is the story about sexism? Cultural appropriation? Disrespect for art? Trampling on the freedom of speech?

To me, the only real issue here is crappy poetry. But that’s the only thing nobody is discussing.

12 responses to “Politics or Poetry?”

  1. zinemin Avatar

    The poetry is indeed extremely crappy.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar

      Of all the poems in the world, this is the one they put on the building in huge letters? That’s just bizarre.

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      1. zinemin Avatar

        People seem to go blind the moment they feel threatened, and some men seem very threatened by the removal of this pointless, impotent, weak, lame poem. Also the author is complaining about what exactly? Now this poem that he must have written in 30 seconds has almost gone viral and some men are defending it passionately.

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        1. Clarissa Avatar

          Good point. It’s fantastic PR for a very bad poem.

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  2. Jonathan Mayhew Avatar
    Jonathan Mayhew

    That’s a crappy poem for sure.

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  3. UDR Avatar

    Can it even be considered a poem? It’s more like vaguely related words in no particular order.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar

      It reminds me of Klara’s favorite Dr Seuss story. “Dogs. Big dogs. Little dogs. Dogs on a boat at night. Dogs under a tree. Dogs over a tree. Dogs behind a tree.”

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      1. UDR Avatar

        At least Dr. Seuss books have whimsical illustrations!

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  4. el Avatar
    el

    The real scandalous act is putting a Spanish poem on an English news site without translation, when the entire article is meaningless without its understanding!

    Is this the sad state of the contemporary journalism?

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    1. cliff arroyo Avatar

      “the entire article is meaningless without its understanding!”

      But feel for the poor editors, if they translated it they’d be spreading the very same sexism they’re trying to fight…

      Anyhoo here’s a translation key:

      avenidas = avenues
      y = and
      flores = flowers
      mujeres = women
      un = one, a(n)
      admirador = admirer

      At least they didn’t put anything by Singapore Mary up there… (yet)

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    2. Clarissa Avatar

      I thought there was a translation. I saw a translation somewhere. Hmm.

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  5. cliff arroyo Avatar

    The story reminds me of this Italian music video filmed in Berlin (with a few animated paintings on walls). Together the story and the video make me miss Berlin….

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