DEAR MISS MANNERS: An acquaintance of mine has taken to writing poetry. It’s awful: full of unnecessarily obscure words, commonplace observations presented as profundities, tedious self-ruminations, etc.
I’ve heard enough to last me a lifetime, but whenever I encounter this individual, they announce excitedly that they’ve written a new poem and ask me if I’d like to hear it. Before I can respond, they pull out their smartphone and begin reciting.
This individual lives in my apartment building. Short of moving, what can I say or do?
GENTLE READER: Must you rule out moving? It strikes Miss Manners as a reasonable response to living in fear of surprise attacks of amateur poetry.
Failing that, she suggests that you plead having difficulty appreciating the recited poems -- as indeed you have -- and ask that they instead be submitted to you in writing so that you may enjoy them at your leisure.
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(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
