a capital offense
no more hopes on which we can dream
or promises we can redeem.
yes, in a quotidian world
our flags remain static and furled.
imagination must be free
for us to live with dignity.
whatever self-respect we find
our attitude will have defined.
all rules are made to be broken;
tradition is just a token.
one rule which i intend to break
has always seemed like a mistake:
starting every line of verse
with a capital is this curse.
breaking every line of thought
is something i have always fought.
there is not a reason or rhyme
for doing this all of the time
and i can see no reason why
use proper nouns for god or i.
without capitalization
we still need some punctuation.
while poems do not have to mean
hiding the meanings is obscene.
a heretic or a rebel
may speak on a higher level.
I admit that i like nonsense
and truths which have no common sense.
even if these things seem crazy
they’re not because i am lazy.


Walt Abbott–4-11-2009