A Poem upon viewing

the 62nd Oscar-ceremony

FOREVER

PLEASE

FOREVER!!

A.R. Atlas (c. 1991)

This short poem by the otherwise unknown Arizona poet A.R. Atlas, was found rejected by the Flagstaff Examiner in late 1991. The poem is a stunning display of minimalist virtuosity and a scathing indictment of our current cult of celebrity, but also speaks forcefully of personal anguish and the fear-of-death (and the fear-of-boredom, that nowadays has taken its place). One cannot but be moved by the two exclamation marks that stand, like guards at the entrance to hell, erect at the end of the poem. Punctuation is always erotic, and no other marks are more explicitly phallic.

According to a note attached to the poem it belongs to a cycle called “The Loneliness Of Unconnected Life”. So far, however, no other poems by Mr. Atlas have been found.

A.F. Bytt (red). Taxonomy of Forgotten Poets of the 20th Century (volume 3). Buffalo; University of West Seneca. 1999. p. 78.