Online Gurus.

A collaborative work by T.S. Morgan and Brooklyn Crane, written with mirrored cinquains.

This post is the result of random Substack interactions. First, T.S. Morgan decides to post he’s the best writer on the platform. Then, James (HVR) starts tagging people to see who takes the bait, and I, not one to chicken out at the chance to be frankly a little bit silly, obviously partook in the tomfoolery if at least for a couple of replies. Next thing you know, Morgan shows up in my DMs with an invitation to what you are about to read.

Now, it could have been anything. We have vastly different styles and approaches to poetry, so the possibilities were endless. However, we settled on targeting the one kind of content creator we all love to hate—that is, online feel-good gurus, from any and every kind.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Crane post if it didn’t have form, so there you have it: mirrored cinquains! Enjoy and check out T.S. Morgan’s stuff!

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Online Gurus.

Morgan:

Again,
just more woo-woo.
Life’s answers sold monthly.
Like a fire hose to a sponge.
Ten bucks.

Crane:

We pay,
you lie—as feigning prophets lie—
to pave a shameless way
for us to buy
your play.

You leech
off those in need
of comfort, whom you reach
while hiding venom in the creed
you preach.

Morgan:

Burn sage,
rub on a crystal—move your couch.
Repeat. Restock. Rebrand.
Promises made,
mask held.

The stars 
align for you.
Every sign assures it.
Doubt dismissed as low vibration.
How neat.

Crane:

And how
devoid of sense or even vile
it is that we allow
you to defile
the vow,

the rite
and once benign
traditions with your blight.
It’s time to bring your greed’s design
to light.

Morgan:

For I
have the Word. Truth, unmolested
by any council, and
definitely
not shit.

The Conjurer by Hieronymus Bosch, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Sharing Loneliness.

Catalexis: Of Rage & Ruin.