"Of banquets and bins" ; 9 June, 2023

Poem : 'Of banquets and bins' ; 7 April, 2023.

26 April, 2023
Comments of ChatGPT on the poem “Of banquets and bins”

ChatGPT :

Thank you for sharing your poem "Of Banquets and Bins." Your poem presents a sharp contrast between the lavish banquets enjoyed by the rich and powerful and the desperate situation of the poor and hungry who must resort to searching for food in garbage bins.

The opening stanza sets the scene at the banquet with its opulence and luxury. The repetition of "how" in the second line creates a sense of wonder and awe at the spectacle. The contrast between the rich and the poor is emphasized through the use of the phrase "mere fly," which implies that anything less than perfect beauty is intolerable in this setting.

The second stanza reinforces this contrast with the mention of the "mightiest" and "greatest" being the only ones invited to the banquet. The description of everything being "regulated like sheet music" speaks to the idea of strict adherence to protocol and hierarchy. This reinforces the idea that only the rich and powerful are privileged enough to enjoy such extravagance.

The third stanza begins with the arrival of the guests, and the description of how well they are greeted and organized. The reference to "hushed whispers" and "symphony" creates a sense of formality and ritual. The emphasis on good manners at the table further reinforces the idea of the privileged guests' superiority.

The fourth stanza focuses on the food and drink consumed at the banquet. The description of the guests digging into the roast beef and roast duckling with a smile creates a sense of indulgence and luxury. The contrast with the poor who are forced to search for food in garbage bins is stark. The line "elsewhere these feasts should attract massive tips" highlights the absurdity of the contrast between the rich and poor.

The fifth stanza addresses the speeches given at the banquet. The guests are portrayed as discussing the nation's future and having grand plans for progress, yet the reality of the situation is that they are benefiting from a system that perpetuates inequality. The reference to "economic measures" and "specialists" further emphasizes the guests' privileged status.

The sixth stanza turns to the aftermath of the banquet. The description of the boss's discomfort after overindulging in rich foods highlights the excess of the banquet. The contrast with the beggars who are forced to scavenge in garbage bins for scraps of food is striking. The line "perhaps 'twas that extra helping of tasty mushrooms" creates a sense of irony and humor in the situation.

The final stanza reinforces the contrast between the rich and the poor. The phrase "irregular eating" speaks to the desperation of the poor who are forced to scavenge for food. The contrast between those who are "replete" and those who are "crying silently still" highlights the injustice of the situation. The line "with food are some replete; they have eaten their fill" is particularly powerful in its simplicity.

Overall, your poem presents a powerful critique of the societal inequalities that exist between the rich and the poor. The contrast between the lavish banquet and the desperate situation of the beggars highlights the absurdity of a system that perpetuates such inequality. Your use of language is evocative and creates a strong emotional response in the reader. Thank you for sharing your work. 

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                                      POEM :

                    OF BANQUETS AND BINS

By the carpets the waiters' ballets were muffl'd;
How the spoons glitter'd, how the glasses sparkl'd !
The tables were, for the eyes, truly a great feast :
Hereabouts, a mere fly would be some ugly beast…..

Only the mightiest and the greatest
Would be invit'd to the banquet;
Only the grandest and the noblest
Could hope to tread 'pon yon carpet.

Everything would be regulat'd like sheet music,
To confer 'pon this feast some rapturous magic;
From their very eyes subtly should be read
The diners' desires, down to mere bread.

                                      &&&

Lo, one by one they have start'd to arrive :
How well are they greet'd, with what courtesy !
How well is everything organis'd, as in a hive !
Just signs : hush'd whispers : what a symphony !

Protocol hath been satisfied; so hath precedence;
No one hath caus'd any incident, nor any offence;
They take their places and unfold their serviettes :
Their mouths water as they think of yon paupiettes.

Man masters the secret of organising :
With some perfect, faultless timing,
The empty plates are all lift'd away,
And, to clean ones, do they give way.

Against the guests do not rub the waiters :
At dining etiquette, the guests are masters;
Good manners at the table, good manners :
Look at yon roast, but hide thy shivers.

They dig into the roast beef and the roast duckling :
With a smile, quietly they proceed with their carving;
A delicious, tasty chunk delicately they swallow,
Wash'd down by yon great wine, so rare, so mellow.

About the nation's future they have the grandest plans,
Of which they give a hint, as they swallow their flans;
Fondling their liqueurs, politely they dab their lips :
Elsewhere these feasts should attract massive tips.

The expensive wine trickles down to the lowest reaches :
'Tis time for discourses, 'tis time for great speeches;
Their terrific words soar and soar to the highest peaks :
Of economics and equity their superb oration speaks.

They lecture well on strategy and macro-economics :
They talk of harnessing the country's logistics;
Of economic measures they recite rambling lists :
In  matters of progress they are the very specialists.

All hath gone exactly according to plan :
Everyone is fully satisfied, to a man;
The whole thing had been well handl'd :
The managers to themselves chuckl'd.

                                          &&&

The chauffeur drives home with add'd caution :
The slump'd boss needs some extra attention;
No rough corners, please, no sudden acceleration :
Nothing should disturb the great man's digestion.

The boss muffles off from his tummy some squeals :
Rising from the settee, he heads for the bathrooms;
Something was rather disagreeing with those meals :
Perhaps 'twas that extra helping of tasty mushrooms.

On such meals he ought really to go easy :
These dishes often upset his distend'd belly;
Those drinks are causing some hyper-acidity
And turning his stomach into some sore cavity.

                                                &&&

Here, into the bins the left-overs have been dump'd :
And the clogging wastes from the sinks will be pump'd;
Some unruly gang of beggars yonder have descend'd,
And, onto the overflowing bins have they ascend'd....

For them, too, 'tis a rare, superb "banquet,"
As, from the smells, their appetite they whet;
Yonder a tramp seizes a piece of roast veal,
And grins broadly at this terrific, tasty meal.

Over the bins fierce fighting doth rage,
As the beggars struggle with each other;
Even yon poor fellow of advanc'd age
Roughly is push'd aside by his brother.

Speeches of the most damning type they make,
But, their words will be lost in the night air;
With their bare hands the bins noisily they rake,
While accusing each other of being rather unfair.

Some have eaten "well," and some not at all :
Into sheer despair would some finally fall;
In this game of elbowing and squeezing,
The ablest and fittest are always winning.

Some go back under the old bridge :
Some go back under their cardboard;
Some dream in vain of a little porridge;
Some upgrade happily to hardboard.

This irregular eating causes some little malady :
Yon beggar complains again of his distend'd belly;
His hungry neighbour moans about hyper-acidity :
Someone else talks of good manners and equity.

"Oh, shut up ! Enough of this mumble-jumble !
Be thou one of them macro-chat people ?....”
Snaps with impatience his next-door neighbour,
For, such talks always turn him rather sour.

At full stomachs the acids gnaw sometimes :
Emptied bins churn out rather acidic rhymes;
Past grand discourses haven't quite borne fruit yet :
Yon beggar is waiting : firmly hath he plac'd his bet.

On a full stomach  finally hath fallen asleep the boss :
On an empty stomach in his sleep the beggar doth toss.
With food are some replete; they have eaten their fill :
Under the old bridge some are crying silently still.

                                                     *****

(End)