(Ben Garrison / grrrgraphics.com)‘Hell Rising’ by C.B. Anderson The Society November 8, 2022 Culture, Epigrams and Proverbs, Poetry, Satire 29 Comments . Hell Rising They’ve come with a purpose: to numb or perturb us __By infecting the already-sick, And with them they bring a more tangible thing: __A nice carrot along with a stick. They live in The Palace of Envy and Malice __And demand that we pay our “fair share”; Regarding new taxes, their mantra Relax! is __Just to make us forget that we care. They sneer at our morals and tell us that plurals __Go beyond normal binary modes; They say that a city looks best when it’s shitty __And let excrement pave all the roads. But that’s not enough: When the going gets tough __They declare it the businessman’s fault; While wounds freely bleed, they attend to our need __And provide us with plenty of salt. It’s nice to believe that the evil they weave __Will secure them a trip back to hell, But better than that, wheresoever you’re at, __Is make sure you don’t go there as well. . . Maxims for the New World Order How sick is our society When grift replaces piety? * When you’re not on the phone You will feel all alone. * Though justice delayed may be justice denied, A jail holds no comfort for those locked inside. * If you’re the smartest person in the room, Then let the others there believe they’re smarter, For otherwise it’s infinitely harder To lead them toward conclusions you presume. * Who says what is or isn’t inappropriate Between a manager and his associate? * A word to past and future fools Who leave the house without their tools: Incompetence is not a trade From which successful lives are made. . . C.B. Anderson was the longtime gardener for the PBS television series, The Victory Garden. Hundreds of his poems have appeared in scores of print and electronic journals out of North America, Great Britain, Ireland, Austria, Australia and India. His collection, Mortal Soup and the Blue Yonder was published in 2013 by White Violet Press. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 29 Responses Mike Bryant November 8, 2022 CB, Hell Rising is a rollicking explication of our times, along with a very apt ending. The Maxims are great too… your wisdom and humor are a heady mix. “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.” ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I only ever grew one wisdom tooth, Mike, but it’s still with me. And I have gazed into the abyss, finding that no creature there cared to look me in the eye. Reply Mike Bryant November 8, 2022 It doesn’t surprise me too much that Nietzsche was wrong… isn’t he the guy that said, “God is dead.” ? Aenugu kishore babu November 8, 2022 Both the poems are of very good. Maxims for the New World Order is classic confabulations of confusion! Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Well, Aenugu, if desperate times call for desperate measures, then I guess confusing times demand confusing measures. Reply James A. Tweedie November 8, 2022 Back in the days of high school biology we pithed frogs. I don’t think they do that any more out of consideration of the frogs’ feelings, their supposed existential right to life, and out of solidarity with those sensitive souls who share tender empathies for amphibians. Irregardless of the frogs, C.B. ‘s rapier wit not only (once again) comes straight to the point as he pricks and piths the pith pots and prigs until they bleed, but offers us pithy advice along the way. No doubt I’ll be smiling over “taxes” and “relax is” for the rest of the day. Thanks, C.B. Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I actually cannot recall hearing any Democrat telling me (or anyone else) to relax, James, but Chuckles Schumer did say at the outset, on camera, “Buckle up!” My own smile should last for weeks unless I find out later today that they’ve stolen another one. Reply Margaret Coats November 9, 2022 In my little neck of the woods, last night Wes Hallman (R) had 58% versus Judy Chu (D) 42%. Today Judy wins the Congressional seat with 63%. Has this overnight earthquake happened before? Brian Yapko November 8, 2022 Boy, C.B., you really hit a nerve with “Hell Rising.” Every disparaging, acid-tongued word here is the absolute truth. I lived in Portland for almost 7 years and I can tell you first-hand about that “Palace of Envy and Malice.” Not to mention human excrement on the sidewalks. Los Angeles ain’t so hot either. Great poetry. Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I hope, Brian, that there is still hope for Santa Fe. Portland was a nice place once. It’s easy to tell the truth when you dare to believe in the facts. Reply Russel Winick November 8, 2022 Both of your poems are well-crafted and spot-on. I can’t say which one has the better ending – they’re both terrific! Thanks for contributing these gems. Reply C.B Anderson November 8, 2022 You don’t owe me any thanks, Russel, because I would have submitted them even if my cancellation had been the only reward. And the second “poem” really has no ending — it could have gone on and on, as I will try to prove in the near future. Reply Julian D. Woodruff November 8, 2022 Good, sharp request for the woke to wake up and smell the … coffee? Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Actually, Julian, I don’t want the Woke to get any smarter. Better that they should smell the ether and sleep for a long, long time to put us out of their misery. Reply Joseph S. Salemi November 8, 2022 It’s always great to read Kip Anderson’s stuff. He never disappoints. It’s not at all easy to put together a complex structure like “Hell Rising.” The meter and the internal rhymes have to fit together as neatly as the workings of a watch. Reply C.B Anderson November 8, 2022 I thank you once again, Joseph, for your approval. All of us need to be on “watch” all of the time. In regard to the metrics, I had to decide whether or not to make the first and third lines headless, and whether to keep the second and fourth lines pure anapestic, which at certain points resulted in three unstressed syllables in a row when the corner was turned. I would disagree with only one thing you wrote: For me, it’s easier “to put together a complex structure” than it is to come up with a good idea. I am a natural metrician, but not so good at appealing to the general affinities of a diverse readership. Reply Norma Pain November 8, 2022 I really enjoyed your poem “Hell Rising” C.B. The rhyme scheme is most enjoyable and the message comes through loud and clear. Thank you. Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 It would pain me, Norma, to have denied you even a modicum of enjoyment, and any message that does not come through loud and clear is no message at all. You are most welcome. Reply norma okun November 8, 2022 With all that you say in your poem there is no better place to be Call it anything you want it is the only place we know of that can and will continue for billions of years Even if it is the human beings who make it inhabitable. Your poem is well said and the others you wrote are full of wisdom Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Okay, Norma, I’ll accept that, even if I didn’t quite understand it. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant November 8, 2022 C.B., “Hell Rising” is a lesson on poetry and life, and “Maxims for the New World Order” is the icing on the life-lesson cake. I’ve enjoyed every single scrumptious poetic crumb! Reply C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 The icing, Susan, has always been my favorite part of the cake, and no one should be satisfied with crumbs, but both you and I have been known to serve up slices of life for general consumption. Reply Mary Gardner November 8, 2022 Very enjoyable, C.B. Reply C.B. Anderson November 9, 2022 Enjoyment is, of course, Mary, my aim, and I thank you for finding some here and for letting me know. Reply Cheryl Corey November 9, 2022 The internal rhymes were so subtle that I didn’t even pick up on it until noted by Dr. Salemi and I did a second reading. Very skillful of you to rhyme “taxes” and “relax is”. And keep those maxims coming! Reply C.B. Anderson November 9, 2022 Actually, Cheryl, these are not internal rhymes proper. In this sort of anapestic construction, the longer lines could be broken into two short rhyming lines with two anapestic feet apiece. It’s a form that many poets have discovered. And be assured that, Evan willing, I will keep the maxims (or apothegms, or aphorisms) coming. Reply Angelica November 10, 2022 I loved it! Reply BDW November 12, 2022 Mr. Anderson’s “Hell Rising” is a succinct, abstract snapshot of our times. His rich verse, reminiscent of that of British-Canadian Modernist Robert Service (1874-1958) here, has many nice lines, as, for example, the clever “They sneer at our morals and tell us that plurals/ Go beyond normal binary modes.” Reply Joseph S. Salemi November 12, 2022 Oh please, Bruce… this has to stop. Calling Robert Service a “modernist” is as absurd as calling James Whitcomb Riley a Dadaist-Surrealist. The type of poet you are is determined by your style and aesthetic presuppositions, not the time-period in which you happen to live. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Mike Bryant November 8, 2022 CB, Hell Rising is a rollicking explication of our times, along with a very apt ending. The Maxims are great too… your wisdom and humor are a heady mix. “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster… for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.” ― Friedrich W. Nietzsche Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I only ever grew one wisdom tooth, Mike, but it’s still with me. And I have gazed into the abyss, finding that no creature there cared to look me in the eye. Reply
Mike Bryant November 8, 2022 It doesn’t surprise me too much that Nietzsche was wrong… isn’t he the guy that said, “God is dead.” ?
Aenugu kishore babu November 8, 2022 Both the poems are of very good. Maxims for the New World Order is classic confabulations of confusion! Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Well, Aenugu, if desperate times call for desperate measures, then I guess confusing times demand confusing measures. Reply
James A. Tweedie November 8, 2022 Back in the days of high school biology we pithed frogs. I don’t think they do that any more out of consideration of the frogs’ feelings, their supposed existential right to life, and out of solidarity with those sensitive souls who share tender empathies for amphibians. Irregardless of the frogs, C.B. ‘s rapier wit not only (once again) comes straight to the point as he pricks and piths the pith pots and prigs until they bleed, but offers us pithy advice along the way. No doubt I’ll be smiling over “taxes” and “relax is” for the rest of the day. Thanks, C.B. Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I actually cannot recall hearing any Democrat telling me (or anyone else) to relax, James, but Chuckles Schumer did say at the outset, on camera, “Buckle up!” My own smile should last for weeks unless I find out later today that they’ve stolen another one. Reply
Margaret Coats November 9, 2022 In my little neck of the woods, last night Wes Hallman (R) had 58% versus Judy Chu (D) 42%. Today Judy wins the Congressional seat with 63%. Has this overnight earthquake happened before?
Brian Yapko November 8, 2022 Boy, C.B., you really hit a nerve with “Hell Rising.” Every disparaging, acid-tongued word here is the absolute truth. I lived in Portland for almost 7 years and I can tell you first-hand about that “Palace of Envy and Malice.” Not to mention human excrement on the sidewalks. Los Angeles ain’t so hot either. Great poetry. Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 I hope, Brian, that there is still hope for Santa Fe. Portland was a nice place once. It’s easy to tell the truth when you dare to believe in the facts. Reply
Russel Winick November 8, 2022 Both of your poems are well-crafted and spot-on. I can’t say which one has the better ending – they’re both terrific! Thanks for contributing these gems. Reply
C.B Anderson November 8, 2022 You don’t owe me any thanks, Russel, because I would have submitted them even if my cancellation had been the only reward. And the second “poem” really has no ending — it could have gone on and on, as I will try to prove in the near future. Reply
Julian D. Woodruff November 8, 2022 Good, sharp request for the woke to wake up and smell the … coffee? Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Actually, Julian, I don’t want the Woke to get any smarter. Better that they should smell the ether and sleep for a long, long time to put us out of their misery. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi November 8, 2022 It’s always great to read Kip Anderson’s stuff. He never disappoints. It’s not at all easy to put together a complex structure like “Hell Rising.” The meter and the internal rhymes have to fit together as neatly as the workings of a watch. Reply
C.B Anderson November 8, 2022 I thank you once again, Joseph, for your approval. All of us need to be on “watch” all of the time. In regard to the metrics, I had to decide whether or not to make the first and third lines headless, and whether to keep the second and fourth lines pure anapestic, which at certain points resulted in three unstressed syllables in a row when the corner was turned. I would disagree with only one thing you wrote: For me, it’s easier “to put together a complex structure” than it is to come up with a good idea. I am a natural metrician, but not so good at appealing to the general affinities of a diverse readership. Reply
Norma Pain November 8, 2022 I really enjoyed your poem “Hell Rising” C.B. The rhyme scheme is most enjoyable and the message comes through loud and clear. Thank you. Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 It would pain me, Norma, to have denied you even a modicum of enjoyment, and any message that does not come through loud and clear is no message at all. You are most welcome. Reply
norma okun November 8, 2022 With all that you say in your poem there is no better place to be Call it anything you want it is the only place we know of that can and will continue for billions of years Even if it is the human beings who make it inhabitable. Your poem is well said and the others you wrote are full of wisdom Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 Okay, Norma, I’ll accept that, even if I didn’t quite understand it. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant November 8, 2022 C.B., “Hell Rising” is a lesson on poetry and life, and “Maxims for the New World Order” is the icing on the life-lesson cake. I’ve enjoyed every single scrumptious poetic crumb! Reply
C.B. Anderson November 8, 2022 The icing, Susan, has always been my favorite part of the cake, and no one should be satisfied with crumbs, but both you and I have been known to serve up slices of life for general consumption. Reply
C.B. Anderson November 9, 2022 Enjoyment is, of course, Mary, my aim, and I thank you for finding some here and for letting me know. Reply
Cheryl Corey November 9, 2022 The internal rhymes were so subtle that I didn’t even pick up on it until noted by Dr. Salemi and I did a second reading. Very skillful of you to rhyme “taxes” and “relax is”. And keep those maxims coming! Reply
C.B. Anderson November 9, 2022 Actually, Cheryl, these are not internal rhymes proper. In this sort of anapestic construction, the longer lines could be broken into two short rhyming lines with two anapestic feet apiece. It’s a form that many poets have discovered. And be assured that, Evan willing, I will keep the maxims (or apothegms, or aphorisms) coming. Reply
BDW November 12, 2022 Mr. Anderson’s “Hell Rising” is a succinct, abstract snapshot of our times. His rich verse, reminiscent of that of British-Canadian Modernist Robert Service (1874-1958) here, has many nice lines, as, for example, the clever “They sneer at our morals and tell us that plurals/ Go beyond normal binary modes.” Reply
Joseph S. Salemi November 12, 2022 Oh please, Bruce… this has to stop. Calling Robert Service a “modernist” is as absurd as calling James Whitcomb Riley a Dadaist-Surrealist. The type of poet you are is determined by your style and aesthetic presuppositions, not the time-period in which you happen to live. Reply
