Thursday, August 23, 2007

Spam Lit Poem: Anatomy of a Merged Poem Based on Proverbs

This Spam Lit poem, cobbled together with slightly familiar proverbs, arrived today in my spam box. The "poem" has a lovely resonance to it and seems to touch upon some of the thoughts and opinions of Post Foetry members. The poem even makes some sense, certainly more sense than some of the published poems I have read lately! I decided to research and then attribute each line to its creator.
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Nothing can be more contemptible than to suppose Public Records to be true.

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Whatever you do, do it with intelligence, and keep the end in view.

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The best interviews -- like the best biographies -- should sing the strangeness and variety of the human race.

(Lynn Barber I'm not sure about this attribution)
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We only part to meet again.

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Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrations and revolutionists.

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The worst thing that happens to you may be the best thing for you if you don't let it get the best of you.
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A husband is what's left of the lover after the nerve has been extracted.
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As you walk through the valley of the unknown, you will find the footprints of Jesus both in front of you and beside you.
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He who fears to suffer, suffers from fear.
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Memory moderates prosperity, decreases adversity, controls youth and delights old age.
(Lactantius Firmianus (?), a.k.a. Lucius Caelius)

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All doors open to courtesy.
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Conductors must give unmistakable and suggestive signals to the orchestra, not choreography to the audience.
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It takes a great man to give sound advice tactfully, but a greater to accept it graciously.

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Submitted by spammer Jesse Ochoa aleevcnd@soamad.com
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I throw out this challenge to our readers: either write your own Spam Lit poem or prose (sans advertising) OR submit one (again, without advertising) that appeared in your e-mail inbox or spam box. We'll publish the what we think is the best of the best (in other words, it doesn't matter who YOU are). I'd like to see some humor and satire as well.
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Rules
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--Submission is free and open to everyone.
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--However, we probably won't publish every poem or prose we receive, especially if we receive duplicate submissions.
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--Selection of submission may depend on how well one follows rule #2.
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1. Submit your Spam Lit here. Place your Spam Lit in the body of the e-mail (No attachments will be opened!)
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2. Attribute the line to its original author or poet (in parentheses just like I did above), and provide a verifying link. Submissions providing verifying links are more likely to see their submission published in this blog.
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3. No porn, gratuitous violence, hate speech, please. Such work will not be posted.
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4. Keep them short, no more than 39 lines (just in case someone wants to attempt a Spam Lit sestina) and about 250 words for prose.
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5. In the subject line, note Poem/Prose Submission; don't put "Spam" in the title; it might get kicked back to you.
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6. For now, the submission period is indefinite, but we reserve the right to close this offer at any time.
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7. NO prizes will be awarded and no payment offered.
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8. As long as you don't attach an ad or other blurb (other than your tag line), your e-mail will remain confidential; otherwise, all bets are off. Also, you may remain anonymous or be credited as the Spam Lit author or finder.
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9. If we don't get too many submissions, we'll acknowledge receipt; otherwise, we won't.
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I hope to see some fine Spam Lit!
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Bugzita

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