Flarf Reading #1

Mohammad, K. Silem. "Does Your Poetry Hold Up?" in Hanging Out with Pablo and Jennifer. Duration Press. (PDF)

If all the judgments that are gathered in this poem were laughable, the poem would be merely satirical. It would mock the pretensions of the editor, or the genuflections of the aspiring poet. But it does not do this. Instead, it shows us what "your poetry" means by showing us how the phrase can be used. You are now free to use "your poetry" as you choose, as your needs require.

This poem says "have done with judgment" but it does not imagine that judgments will go away. It says you will have to proceed and the judging will continue too. It offers no position of ironic superiority: some of the judgments will be right.