Let's Talk Satire, Bullying and Punching Up
Always punch up, never punch down.
This is part of my “Poem a Day for April” series.
The target of yesterday’s poem (6th April) was an obvious one really. It was impossible to look anywhere without talk of tariffs. If you want to know why they’re a terrible idea perpetuated by a educational bereft simpleton with Daddy issues then check out this post.
As the world burns due to the behaviour of this immensely fucked up individual I came to the conclusion that he’s loving it. He is an attention seeker and he’s getting the world’s attention. But like all these billionairres it’s never enough. They chase it and they don’t just want more. They want everything. All the attention, all the money, all the power. And if they got it… would it be enough? Of course not.
People seem to think calling this orange manbaby a criminal, a sex offender, an idiot or any other bunch of names is a good idea. I disagree. I don’t think any of it hurts him or even bothers him.
Which begs the question, if you’re a Wolverhampton born poet and want to do something that might hurt him if he should ever see it1 what should you do?
I think the job of satirist is to find the thing people in power are embarassed about, worried about or fear people bringing up. It’s easy to call such behaviour bullying. That’s what bullies do. If you say to a bully, “Don’t tickle me or I’ll poo myself” then you’re going to get tickled. But where satire and bullying change is in those words…
“…people in power…”
It’s punching up. It’s the little folk attacking the lord of the manor.
It’s why comedy where middle class white men take the piss out of people on benefits leaves a sour taste in your mouth. They’re not punching up, they’re punching down.
I expressed this to someone and they said, “What would the Queen do?” Well, the Queen had immense power, wealth and influence if the upshot of that is she can’t make a joke about someone on benefits then I suspect she’ll be okay. That said, apparently the Queen was very funny and her humour was very self deprecating. Which is another answer to the problem.
Always punch up, never punch down.
So when a petulant manbaby with Daddy issues is going to be the target of a poem when you’re a Wolverhampton born poet and want to do something that might hurt him if he should ever see it what should you do?
I genuinely think if he saw this he’d be fuming and it would hurt him. If I get killed with a poisoned umbrella you’ll know he’s seen it.
How do you hurt a billionairre who runs the largest economy in the world?
Lil’ Mushroom Dick
As the world burns.
As fear spreads.
As brains drain,
he knows his name
is on everyone’s lips.
He wraps his
spray tan fingers
around his lil’ mushroom dick
and pumps away.
His cock cries
a worthless orgasm.
Maybe tomorrow
he can try again.
Feel something
other than hate
for his own lil’ mushroom dick.
I’m quite pleased with that. That said, I’m not delusional. I know he’ll never see this. I know this will change nothing. But I don’t write these things because I think they’ll change anything. Firstly, it just makes me feel a bit better to get some of the frustration out. It’s like the creative version of sex. Having sex doesn’t solve anything but you feel better after doing it. Writing this poem doesn’t solve anyhting but I feel better after doing it.
And maybe, maybe it plants a little seed that grows into the change in someone else.
So yes, write poetry to get the frustrations out. Write poetry that punches up. Write poetry that pokes fun at those in power. I promise you’ll feel better.
And if I do end up dead from a poisoned umbrella, well, you’ll know he did see it.
Dave Pitt
Boomtime, Discord 24, Year of Our Lady of Discord 3191
Which he won’t.