# Best poetry in years was part of a sarcastic blog

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 13, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148 "2012-07-13T22:03:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148/1 "2012-07-13T22:03:06Z")

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[Against constellations: Why are we stuck with Bronze-age graffiti? - Slate Magazine](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/a_fine_whine/2012/07/against_constellations_why_are_we_stuck_with_bronze_age_graffiti_.html)

> [@](#):
>
> On an otherwise clear evening, whatever the season, a smog of Bronze Age graffiti sweeps across the glittering dome and stains the heavens with crude shapes and stick figures—the doodles of a primitive mind. Snakes and scorpions, shepherds and fish, cups and spoons—no image is too dreary or mundane so long as it reflects the anxieties and preoccupations of a life spent farming in Mesopotamia or trawling the ancient seas. These connect-the-dots are among the most heinous affronts to nature ever devised, a witless miscalculation that has corrupted our landscape for thousands of years and ruined a billion nights. If only there were a way to shake the heavenly Etch-a-Sketch and make them all disappear! If only we could erase the constellations!

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**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148/2 "2012-07-14T00:46:19Z")

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It isn’t doing anything for me. I’ve also read some incredible poetry written in the past few years.

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**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148/3 "2012-07-14T05:32:16Z")

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Well, I got a kick out of it, particularly: “…a smog of Bronze Age graffiti sweeps across the glittering dome and stains the heavens…” 🙂

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**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\
**Post date:** [July 14, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-poetry-in-years-was-part-of-a-sarcastic-blog/628148/4 "2012-07-14T18:33:05Z")

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On an otherwise clear evening,  
whatever the season,  
a smog of Bronze Age graffiti sweeps across  
the glittering dome  
and stains the heavens with crude shapes and stick figures—  
the doodles of a primitive mind.

Snakes and scorpions,  
shepherds and fish,  
cups and spoons—  
no image is too dreary or mundane so long as it  
reflects the anxieties and preoccupations of a life  
spent farming in Mesopotamia  
or trawling the ancient seas.

These connect-the-dots are among  
the most heinous affronts to nature  
ever devised,  
a witless miscalculation that has corrupted  
our landscape for thousands of years  
and ruined a billion nights.

If only there were a way to shake  
the heavenly Etch-a-Sketch  
and make them all disappear!  
If only we could erase the constellations!