Constantly Risking Absurdity by Lawrence Ferlinghetti Commentary Constantly risking absurdity is a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The poem is an extended metaphor comparing writing poetry to preforming dangerous acrobatics. It has a very original layout and complicated structure. The poem is not very long, but it is precise and clear, it does so through great use of imagery and diction. It is the harsh truth of poetry writing, and really of all creative writing: if …showed first 75 words of 1015 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1015 total…are different but in the end they add up to failure, the failure for the poem or person to survive. Many people hold themselves back from creative writing due to the fear of failure. It is a nice poem that makes one thing twice about the simplicity of writing poems. It clarifies one's mind, and corrects one thought: writing poetry and a complex and dangerous act, it is not just making a few words rhyme.