In this corner...

I begin this post with a picture of a toilet, not because everything I do is scatological (hehe, poop, funny) but because I think it properly sets the stage for what I'm about to discuss.

Those who know me are well aware by now that I study poetry, perhaps even do so for a living (ha!), so I have over the years made contacts with other morons of my ilk. We like to pass the occasional bit of information (read "gossip") with almost childlike giggles, because we realize what we do is entirely meaningless.

I was made aware recently of a fandabulous new site on the interwebs, or whatever it is you whipper-snappers call it these days, so hip, so daring, so fucking NEW that it will like totally blow your mind, man. That site is Quickmuse.

"What is Quickmuse?" you ask. Each week two well known, well respected, well traveled, perhaps even well bred (you should probably read this all as "well trod") poets battle it out in the most grueling of media: lyric poetry. Contestants are given 15 minutes to improvise a bit of verse on a theme or passage supplied by the groundbreaking folks at Quickmuse. They then post the finished poet on the Quickmuse forums for all to see and judge. Apparently, quickmuse fever has so gripped the nation (i.e. you guys, the US), that a reporter from the world renowned New York Times saw fit to write a piece about it.

I have to say, it's been a long time coming. I have often sat in crowded, smoke filled cafes wondering to myself what it would be like if there were a venue where dueling lyricists could duke out like the troubadours of old. Maybe each poet would compose verse spontaneously before a live audience, whose favorable reaction would determine the winner. I even had this crazy idea once for a movie about a young poet rising from obscurity in Chicago or New York or Detroit to prominence amongst his fellow lyricists. The battles would be set against the backdrop of his struggles to achieve financial solvency and escape the trap of poverty he was born into.

That would be pretty sweet, but I suppose for now Quickmuse will have to suffice.