poemtextmessage: a poem in SMS

This morning, I had an inspiration to write a poem using the shortened SMS language of the cell phone and chat room (and twitter, too, I suppose).

So, here goes:

poemtextmessage
(listen to the poem, translated)

iirc
u thnk txt &wrds r doa
but omg rotfl bout that @shmh
‘cos ov cors, imo, 2moro will ch8g 4 us &4u
QFT: ppl r str8ng & lng str8ngr
th4, i activ8 ur txt 4u
w/lnks & soh fwiw &hope u
h/o 2 w/e u can
& now pls gt bc 2 yr hw
yer PAW

Pce \\//
Kvn

8 Comments
  1. Here is the key:

    poemtextmessage

    iirc (if I recall correctly)
    u thnk txt &wrds r doa (you think text and words are dead on arrival)
    but omg rotfl bout that @shmh (but, oh my god, I’m rolling on the floor laughing about that and shaking my head)
    ‘cos ov cors, imo, 2moro will ch8g 4 us &4u (because, of course, in my opinion, tomorrow will change for us and for you)
    QFT: ppl r str8ng & lng str8ngr (quoted for truth: people are strange and language, stranger)
    th4, i activ8 ur txt 4u (therefore, I activate your txt for you)
    w/lnks & soh fwiw &hope u (with links & sense of humor, for what it’s worth, and I hope you)
    h/o 2 w/e u can (hold on to whatever you can)
    & now pls gt bc 2 yr hw (and now, please get back to your homework)
    yer PAW (your parents are watching)

    Pce \\// (peace)
    Kvn (Kevin)

  2. Hey, Kevin thanks for providing us with the translation, cos I still would have been pondering on it. I only got a few of the common words!!! Guess this is the language of the 21st century

  3. This poem was fun to write and even a few days later, I, too, need the translation (doh).
    It’s interesting how this poem dovetailed with the Pew report (see other post).
    That was an unexpected convergence of ideas.
    Kevin

  4. Kevin,
    Your poem was great especially when translated. Language is always evolving.
    I just did I Am From poems with a group of art students. I told them that I spoke 3 languages and text messenging was not one of them. I told them I was too old to learn it now. They laughed. I subbed for a LA teacher who left Shakespear for the students to read with the directions to follow the side notes in their text. Of course some grumbling, but I told them it was like me understanding their text messenging. I would need side notes for that. I think it gives us an opportunity to teach and compare instead of forbid it.
    Mary

  5. I love this! As a fourth grade teacher, I’m just starting to see the hints of “leet-speak” in my students’ writing. I think it’s something that needs to be acknowledged as a legitimate form of communication and I thank you for this poem!

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