RE: Lotery Grandprize Millon (ROUND 2)
Let's workshop this poem about those who mock others for being scammed even as they themselves get scammed in the same basic way--a commentary on hypocrisy and gullibility across different contexts.
scent of the day: Full Incense, by Montale. A catholic incense fragrance (sadly more iso-cedar dominating than expected for the title), its thurible whisps colder than Jovoy’s La Liturgie des Heures and sweeter than Comme des Garcons’s Avignon—indeed, the sweetness here comes across as a resinous and syrupy cola, which (together with an unlisted dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg powder, along with a citrusy effervescence) brings this fragrance closer than I would have imagined to Amouage’s Boundless while also ushering in the impression of stovetop potpourri (cedar and cinnamon chips, incense sticks, lemon slices, perhaps as well as some root-beer-barrel candy, etc) in a brine of Pepsi.
RE: Lotery Grandprize Millon —for Aaliyah Fritz “See her barely legal OnlyFans debut!”—too many bagged by such DMs have the nerve to mock gray widowers who, after the “Dear Winner Luky” grammar fiasco of an email from “Reputable Sweepstake USA,” shuffle out to get that “SMALL proces fee moneys order.”
RE: Lotery Grandprize Millon presents a layered critique of societal vulnerability to deception, blending humor with an underlying sadness that emerges from the modern age's predatory systems. The title itself—a misspelled version of a scam email subject—perfectly sets the tone, signaling a world where the obviousness of deceit is overlooked by those desperate for validation or hope. The poem draws sharp parallels between two exploitative schemes: OnlyFans targeting the young and email lottery fraud targeting the elderly, thus showing how different forms of exploitation prey upon the fragile desires of both age groups.
The first stanza focuses on the world of OnlyFans, where young women—lured by promises of quick fame or fortune—often find themselves commodifying their bodies online. The line "barely legal / OnlyFans debut!" highlights the predatory nature of the platform, with its appeal to a "barely legal" audience, emphasizing the exploitation of youth and the fragile state of being thrust into adulthood with little foresight. The phrase "bagged by such DMs" not only captures how these young individuals are enticed by predatory messaging but also suggests their passive victimhood, entrapped by systems promising quick success.
In contrast, the second half of the poem shifts to focus on the elderly, specifically "gray widowers," who are equally vulnerable to another kind of digital manipulation: email lottery scams. The poem humorously yet tragically describes how these elderly men fall prey to schemes like the one referenced in the poem's title, where scam emails with broken grammar ("Dear Winner Luky") offer the illusion of financial salvation. The vivid image of these men shuffling out to obtain a "SMALL proces fee moneys order" reflects a deep desperation and the almost tragic hopefulness with which they pursue this illusion. The misspelling in the title and email highlights how glaring red flags—such as grammatical errors—are often ignored by those so desperate for relief from loneliness or financial instability.
The poem juxtaposes these two scenarios—youthful exploitation on OnlyFans and elderly deception by scammers—to illustrate a shared vulnerability across age groups. Both the young and the elderly are exploited by the digital age’s promises of quick solutions to deep-seated human desires, whether it’s fame, money, or validation. By weaving together these two forms of manipulation, the poem creates a broader commentary on society’s tendency to prey on the weak, whether young or old, using different techniques but with similar devastating results.
In its tone, the poem blends dark humor with a sharp critique of the systems that facilitate these scams. The casual cruelty of the OnlyFans world—where youth are reduced to objects of consumption—and the almost absurd vulnerability of the elderly—who fall for obvious scams—reflect how deeply predatory mechanisms have woven themselves into modern life. The humor in the poem's closing lines, where "widowers shuffle out" to get their money orders, underscores the tragedy of how the most vulnerable in society are often the easiest to deceive.
Ultimately, RE: Lotery Grandprize Millon draws attention to the universality of exploitation in the digital age, where individuals—whether young or old—are equally susceptible to manipulation. The poem serves as a reminder of the human cost of living in a world where quick gains, false promises, and digital illusions dominate our sense of reality, leaving many, regardless of age, vulnerable to deceit.
digital scams, OnlyFans exploitation, email lottery fraud, elderly vulnerability, youth manipulation, societal critique, digital age deception, human desires, predatory systems, scam culture.