Wednesday, January 28, 2015

101 Excuses

  1. Because wine
  2. Because I said so
  3. Because I love you
  4. Because I hate you
  5. Because my mother made me
  6. Because friends don’t let friends drive drunk
  7. Because peer pressure
  8. Because I’m broke
  9. Because I’m sad
  10. Because it’s raining
  11. Because I’m tired
  12. Because I have a headache
  13. Because poetry is hard
  14. Because it’s cold
  15. Because Obama
  16. Because life sucks
  17. Because life is awesome
  18. Because I need it
  19. Because I want it
  20. Because I have to have it
  21. Because I’m sorry
  22. Because it’s late
  23. Because I’m late
  24. Because it’s yours
  25. Because we’re done
  26. Because lame
  27. Because looking at the sun causes blindness
  28. Because it’s national vomit day
  29. Because you’re weird
  30. Because I’m unique
  31. Because I have to
  32. Because I want to
  33. Because I need to
  34. Because heartbreak
  35. Because snow days
  36. Because I’m bored
  37. Because bilingualism
  38. Because it’s time to go
  39. Because procrastination
  40. Because clichés are so last century
  41. Because I’m stalking you
  42. Because I’m afraid
  43. Because I can’t
  44. Because I won’t
  45. Because you saw me
  46. Because you left
  47. Because I was switched at birth
  48. Because I have to go to work
  49. Because I have to stay home
  50. Because global warming
  51. Because climate change
  52. Because polar ice caps
  53. Because Jesus is my co-pilot
  54. Because lactose intolerance
  55. Because Ebola
  56. Because bacon
  57. Because I got high
  58. Because the Internet
  59. Because I can
  60. Because you are mine
  61. Because I’ve fallen and I can’t get up
  62. Because then the terrorists win
  63. Because America
  64. Because free speech
  65. Because homosexuality is a sin
  66. Because homosexuality is population control
  67. Because who cares?
  68. Because it’s natural
  69. Because I can’t stop
  70. Because history proves it
  71. Because science says so
  72. Because the repubs are racists
  73. Because Bill Nye the Science Guy
  74. Because water expands when it freezes
  75. Because it’s none of your business
  76. Because you need help
  77. BECAUSE YELLING
  78. Because everyone poops
  79. Because you’re cat’s an asshole
  80. Because I need a drink
  81. Because you’re prettier when I’m drunk
  82. Because that’s mean
  83. Because I didn’t mean it
  84. Because yes you did
  85. Because don’t be so sensitive
  86. Because doors slam
  87. Because windows open
  88. Because feelings get hurt
  89. Because you can’t handle the truth
  90. Because you can’t fix ugly
  91. Because your prettier on the inside
  92. Because the heart is a muscle
  93. Because it’s outside the box
  94. Because no pain, no gain
  95. Because it’s outside the box
  96. Because be kind and rewind
  97. Because it’s all about the bass
  98. Because you’re beautiful
  99. Because we are family
  100. Because Karma
  101. Because

4 comments:

  1. I like the simplicity of the list format. Some of them made me smile and others are so true. The end because has the essence of it all when it stands alone. After looking up bilingualism I believe its a funny excuse and I like how the word sounds. Any ways cool poem thanks for sharing.

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  2. I enjoyed this. It's simplicity is brilliant, but it also speaks leagues in some areas, where the so-called excuses seem to build off one another. The two lines, "Because it's late / Because I'm late" slammed me, because it goes from trivial to suddenly really profound. But then it moves on, before you can really think about it.
    I'm curious, did you think of all these by yourself, or are these borrowed from casual speech or movies?

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  3. Thanks for the feedback guys! I was sort of inspired by another poem in Kerry's class that was basically about procrastination, it got me thinking about all the excuses we use and how they hold us back.

    Evan - I'd say I came up with about 60 on my own, then I would randomly look for stuff and usually I'd end up on a tear of about 10 or 15 before I got stuck again. So yes, some of them are pop-culture inspired. When I was done I went back and looked for patterns that could go together.

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  4. AH, nice nice nice! the mix of personal + bumper-sticker wisdom offers humour, epiphany, everydayness, and wonder at the possible connects between lines, as Evan noted! I also agree with Ren that the end gives a bit of a voice-punch, but what would you think about possibly making it even more surpriseful? Say, by playing with the word and just hanging at:

    101. Be

    or the pseudo-profound:

    101. Be cause

    or the playful and somewhat open-ended:

    101. Because because

    ReplyDelete