Splendid. Gorgeous.
Keep it up, Ken, and rectangles of text as we know them will be as obsolete as parchment -- or like parchment, used only for cooking.
--Tom

I'll try. Thanks for the look in, Dave.

Nicely done.  Maggie

I find this work disturbing and challenging. While I'm a big fan of words, if I was teaching poetry writing right now I would send my students over to London or to someone like Mike nearer home to learn about this kind of graphic poetry (is there someone like Mike?). Just plain old words on a plain old page seem dinosauric in comparison, and to only know how to do that makes me feel very limited formwise. Since I am not a visual artist, what can I do that can hold its own beside something like this if, say, they were on facing pages? I like the boldness of this work for itself, and for how boldly it challenges me as a writer. -Tom

What they said, ken.

lois

Terrific this, Mike. Jealous that another got to pick it first. Both vision and words combining so well.

milner

Very kind words, Tom. It's encouraging to know you think this form works, and that it might challenge you - being a writer who's work I always find expanding my field of view - is a massive compliment - thank you. (though, I shouldn't think I'd be of much to any students just yet!)

Lynn and Milner, glad this one worked for you also - thanks for the look in.

Very, very awesome. Not quite sure why there's an exclamation mark on the first line though.

Show us more, sooner.

james

I love this.  The visuals work well.  The large font attention getters, the concise tight form
and the gorgeous little leaf...completely fab.

who's ken and who's dave?  sorry, tried to read the comments and got completely lost.  mike I think you're awesome and so is your art.  that last line speaks mountains.

cheryl

Mike, I'm just now catching on to my original typo! Sorry bout that, dude. I tell you, it's a constant tightrope walk trying to operate this motor vehicle on this sliver of brain cells! Tom

excellent, Mike!
your originality shines


Stella

I have chosen this for the Front Page this week. Though connected lightly via the McDonald's link (and the eloquent little leaf!), I like how Mike's simply juxtaposed the plants' verbalized plight with everything that the Micky D's soda-cup image represents. Mike has a strong, deft touch digging below our multi-media-dominated existence. I find his melding of graphics and words a real tonic for the blood. Several great poems considered, but "Soft Drink" a standout to me. -Tom