The Jerkiest Waltzes Still Follow Protocol?
Let's workshop this poem about how the official care providers in a troubled girl's life seem more like NPCs in a game--seem, so the poem hints, like a mirror to all creatures who fail to be causa sui
The Jerkiest Waltzes Still Follow Protocol Sanctioned lifelines (teachers, nurses, priests) seemed too sealed off (coiled in red tape? official expectation?), too much like scripted NPCs (too much maybe like all of us flung, full of encoded drives, into this game), to count for her as authentic beacons to turn to.
Michael Anthony Istvan Jr.'s poem "The Jerkiest Waltzes Still Follow Protocol" critiques the bureaucratic and impersonal nature of institutional support systems. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Istvan questions the authenticity of roles typically seen as societal lifelines, such as teachers, nurses, and priests. These figures, described as "sanctioned lifelines," appear overly regulated and detached from genuine human connection, encapsulated in the phrase "coiled in red tape."
Istvan employs the metaphor of these roles as "scripted NPCs" to emphasize their lack of spontaneity and genuine interaction. Non-playable characters (NPCs) in video games follow predetermined scripts, and by likening societal lifelines to NPCs, Istvan underscores the mechanical and impersonal nature of these roles. This comparison highlights the systemic issues within these institutions, suggesting that the individuals within them are constrained by protocols that strip away their authenticity and ability to provide real support.
The poem delves deeper into the human condition, suggesting that this scripted existence is a universal plight. The lines "too much maybe / like all of us flung, / full of encoded drives, / into this game" reflect a deterministic view of life, where individuals operate within the confines of pre-existing conditions and societal expectations. This perspective aligns with Istvan's broader philosophical themes, exploring the tension between free will and determinism.
The concluding lines emphasize the personal impact of this institutional detachment. The inability of these lifelines to serve as "authentic / beacons to turn to" leaves individuals, especially those in need of support, without reliable sources of guidance and comfort. Istvan's poem ultimately calls for a more genuine and empathetic approach to roles that are meant to provide care and support, challenging the reader to reflect on the limitations imposed by rigid structures and the need for authentic human connection.
Michael Anthony Istvan Jr., institutional critique, societal lifelines, teachers, nurses, priests, scripted NPCs, bureaucratic detachment, human connection, deterministic existence, philosophical poetry, critique of institutions, empathy, authentic support, poetry analysis.