It by Bob Elliott

                It

 Some people  like it, others hate it.
 We have to face it, though, our talk about it always
 makes "it" distinct from "not it".  We say "This
 is it, but that's not it."  Although at times
 perception gets reversed, "That's it", we cry,
 "This is not it, you know."
                                               We find
  sometimes we just can't stand it,  but we mustn't
 lose it,  nor let it get to us. We know
  we should get over it, not lie down under it, but go for it,
  make it new, make it quick.  Maybe we'll revel in it,
  maybe just take care of it, then as we see the end of it
  perhaps discover what it meant, what it was all about.



Comments

[jamesthomashoward]

Excellent Bob! I'm into poems that are a little too clever for their own good. This raises interesting thoughts about our daily loves, how there is always an 'it' to attend to, and how the past is constructed in a series of 'its', and everyone's lives, whilst so ostensibly different, are all, at the base level, about its.

Might I be so audacious and say that it reminded me of one of my own poems, an ars poetica:

This happened
and then
that happened,

and this
and that
made me feel that way and this,

and that this
and this that

are both calling me,
both calling me this and that.

That this happens is bad,
but the thing is:

if that happens,

that this happened will be

of
no
consequence
at
all.

That is what this is about.

-----------

Apologies for that digression,

James

[Erika Hommel]

is there an extra space betwen 'see' and 'the', second to last line, or is it just me? Speak of which:

'the end of it
perhaps discover what it meant,'

I think you could scratch that and just end with, 'what it was all about.'

I did enjoy this one!

[Brian Edwards]

I too enjoyed this Bob. There is a worrying truth beneath the comedy . . .
Erika makes a good point about the end. I'm also wondering about the grammar of "perception get reversed" - perceptions get? perception gets?

B.

[Bob Elliott]

Thanks to all
Nits dealt with.
Will respond to other comments/suggestions later.

BOB

[Bob Elliott]

James - I'm flattered by the comparison. Thank you.

Brian & Erica - I don't think I shall change the last line(s). Copernicus and I both know all about the earth going round the sun, but it means something different (probably far less) to me than it did to him.

BOB