Nobody writes poetry any more
and nobody reads it.
Nobody publishes poetry
since nobody needs it.
Nobody writes stanzas or rhymes --
nobody dares.
Poets have fallen on hard times
and nobody cares.
Nobody devours Tennyson or Keats
or quotes from Gertrude Stein.
Imagery, sound and metered beats
have bowed to the bottom line.
Nobody thinks poetic thoughts
and nobody writes verse.
The market place has decided --
praise the power of the purse!