Don’t go all turtle on me here, but
did you know there was a time when people
actually had sex just because they got the itch.
They frolicked in the thermal pools for fun,
and did it in the dirt because it felt fantastic, but

some uptight ass had to come along
and fuck up the equilibrium by formulating
some radical new concept called romantic love
that had young people drinking hemlock
in the painful wake of its passing.

Too many others used it as a convenience,
a way of satisfying their own grasping
desires, and overnight, pussy went from
pleasant pleasure to a tradable commodity;
food, furs, bigger, better, bullshit.

You can bet your burro that whoever
came up with that sorry idea had already
cornered the market on glitter and just
needed an outlet. The river of life is always
slowed by a logjam of self-serving fools.

I don’t know what I don’t know, but what
I do know is that life should have been
formulated on the principle of a cat’s litter box:

Just scoop the shit out and start over again.

There are some good lines in this, Ron. I enjoyed reading it.

D

Ron,

At first read, I thought that the line "Just scoop the shit out and start over again." was in ref to your opening subject, a take on matter-of-fact hauling ashes, but on second reading, I thought it referred to starting civilization over again with a better take on how it should be. So, if explanation is warranted, which is it? I think your words are holding together in excellent form; it's most pleasing to me to read a work that causes me to think (and I agree with the sentiment; not that that's a factor).

HG

I hate to be all english teacher about it, but I'm pretty sure it should be "principle"... no? the only reason I bring it up is because of meaning, and if it is supposed to be "principal" than I'm not sure I'm getting the subtleness.

HG, You were more or less right on both counts.  It's a cause and effect thing.  No one can seem to let a simple pleasure lie without constantly twisting it to conform to their own ideals.   :'(

Kgerick:  Thank God for English teachers. :)

Ronald H.:

These two strophes / stanzas seem to carry the poem's core--

"some uptight ass had to come along
and fuck up the equilibrium by formulating
some radical new concept called romantic love
that had young people drinking hemlock
in the painful wake of its passing.

Too many others used it as a convenience,
a way of satisfying their own grasping
desires, and overnight, pussy went from
pleasant pleasure to a tradable commodity;
food, furs, bigger, better bullshit."

While the "f" and "p" words (in the quoted stropes / stanzas, respectively) are expletive in nature and therefore hold potential distraction, in context, they are deceptively non-gratuitous.  The "p" word is especially well-placed as it ties in nicely with the title's "kitty litter" delivery. 

The preceding and following pieces of this poem may be served by expansion from its solid core [which, as stated, seems to be S2, S3].

CEO

Indeed, some very good lines in this. The tempo carries right through to the end. Nice read.

This one: "food, furs, bigger, better bullshit." I almost want a comma before the last word, forcing the line to end with an exclamation rather than another item in a list. Oh, and maybe a colon instead of a semicolon before the last line?

But that's just a thought. Fun! Thanks for contributing this.

Where to begin? The laughter, the head noding in complete agreement,
the admiration of art and craft, the big "Oh yeah!" as the poem ended.

You get caught up in message which I think shows your skill, Ron.

I enjoyed this alot.

Maggie

nice. refreshing more than anything.

thanks.

Ditto to comments above.  The voice carries right the way through.  Really enjoyed that listing line with the comma between better and bullshit.  Bullshit becoming another item in the listing was just a surprise -- I do enjoy a surprise every now and again.  And this whole poem was enjoyed.  thanks, lynn