Low effort poem

This is one of my favorite poems that I've read in a long time. You can read it on surface level and laugh along to the silliness of the slapstick self-defeatism. Like why post this? Why even write it? But the surface level doesn't really scratch the hanging cliche of what is so interesting and compelling about this work of art. Instead of talking about sadness the way a poet often tries, you embody it.

You didn't get out of bed this morning. You didn't shower. You called in sick. So why should your poem show up to work on time with a suit and tie?

As a complete amateur, this has given me a lot to think about, not everything I want to put down in words has to be wrapped in metaphors or looks like it’s been through a thesaurus blender in desperate bid to seem deeper and more meaningful. This is just right, kudos and thank you for posting this!

this is a low effort comment that I will link on my next submission

I love this so much. Not only is the basic sense of helplessness sort of funny and easy to understand, the deeper feeling of desperation and numbness and exhaustion is even more interesting. You structured it beautifully and the loose rhyming to go along with the "low-effort" theme works really well.

I'm going to be saving this to look at later. Thank you for sharing this, I really loved it.

One might hardly set spade in the mountain of the muses without striking the bones of some long dead poet.

Or something like that, said someone.

Your poem calls it to my mind: saying in a unique way that nothing unique can be said!

This poem deserves a high effort feedback, And I agree that best writings are effortless, Like this feedback of mine. And this poem is eloquent, just as dead as the feeling it's trying to convey.

Dear tim0777,

How on earth did you write something that has ended up becoming my personal number one on Reddit so far and arguably top 5 ever? I could give a lecture on why this poem matters but I am tired from traveling and rewriting etc., and so is the speaker. This piece is the epitome of earnestness and writing fatigue. Bookmarked!

- Sea

I love how it doesn’t try to take itself seriously, while being completely serious. The obvious is that yeah you can try and be more sophisticated and all, but the low effort is a creative decision you made that really just works. Great stuff

Interesting, very interesting. I feel the vibe that this is saying- that writing, and reading writing, while therapeutic, can only go so far in alleviation of one's problems. You have taken apart the concept of a poem and faced it towards itself, and it is almost speaking to itself in a way. Great job, I loved this, and i somewhat agree- I think poetry, and art in general, can act as a tool but a tool that can only go so far.

This is how I feel on the daily, especially since the pandemic happened. And I left the country and now have no friends and no purpose. I find writing extremely difficult - because nothing is happening. I think you conveyed that well in this poem! It says low effort, but it exists, so it’s better than non existent. I think people who struggle with similar things would benefit from a “low effort” mindset because it feels less pressuring yet clearly the words are still picked and chosen wisely. Inspiring!

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As someone who does not, as a rule, enjoy poetry, this is pleasing to me. I hate the metaphor and forced speech that I find in many poems, but this is much more natural. I really like it.

This poem evokes a feeling of fatigue and despair. I suppose that means it's effective.

Very sardonic.

Favorite line: life is meaningless

You've managed to tell your situation poetically yet summed up all of ours.

This is Wonderful

Take my free silver...!!!

This compounds the frustration of writing deliciously. I think all writers have had this experience, and you nail the cynicism in critiquing your own work. Great post!

I think it could use a few more dimensions and layers ya'know? The story is very linear and common, I'm struggling to find the deeper meaning you were trying to convey at least. The title tho! Kind of makes the aforementioned ironic it; my frustration with the seemingly lackluster poem is on me because the title itself warned me to lower my expectations. That's a stroke of genius, I wonder if that's what you were going for?

I think you got pretty close to achieving your goal of "trying without trying".

Maybe study more short poetry.

The best instrumentalists always make short uncomplicated runs sound like anyone could do it.

I wouldn’t call that a low effort poem, but a raw one. Sometimes complexity can’t describe emotions. We should never forget that you won’t explain complexity by more complexity sometimes you just need to say what you want to say. Poems are not a mean to show off your skills, but to picture your feelings.