The Mea Culpa School

The Mea Culpa School is considered by some critics to be a subset of the Explanatory School, but others note the major new innovation by some of the more prominent members of this school—the deft element of whimsy.

The thrust of their poems is an acceptance of guilt via a creative and humorously inappropriate argument. In so doing, the poets are more concerned with imagination than plausibility, and we, the readers, are the better for it.

Jeffrey Donovan

b. 1968

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Actor Jeffrey Donovan takes a rather mundane situation—a DUI stop—and alchemically alters it with the introduction of poesy and Benadryl.

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On Being Pulled Over In Miami Beach (After Swerving to Avoid a Parked Cop Car)

Sorry,

I didn’t see the red light or your stopped car . . .

The only mistake I made tonight

was drinking Benadryl with three glasses of wine,

I really think I’m only borderline

and not too drunk.

David Vitter

b. 1961

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Sen. David Vitter’s poems bring to mind literary magazine Kenyon Review’s comment on the confessional poetry of Robert Lowell: “For these poems, the question of propriety no longer exists.” Vitter impressively goes several steps further than Lowell, abandoning decency and dignity as well.

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On Being Exposed for Wearing Diapers with a Prostitute: A Family Values Senator’s Poetic Lament, with the Fortunate Understanding of God, to Whom the Senator Appears to Have a Direct Line

i. The poet first expresses his basic philosophy:

I’m a conservative

who opposes

radically redefining

marriage—

the most important social institution

in human history . . .

I have no skeletons

in my closet.

ii. After being accused of having the “skeleton” of wearing diapers and consorting with a prostitute, the poet attacks:

The accusations are

Absolutely and

completely

untrue

just crass Louisiana politics.

iii. A short while later, the poet admits the truth, he indeed wore diapers with a prostitute, perhaps violating his strong family values stance, but God understands:

This was a very serious sin

in my past

for which I am, of course, completely responsible

Several years ago, I asked for and

received

forgiveness

from God

and my wife.

Billy McCormack

b. 1939

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A fellow poet, Rev. Billy McCormack of the Louisiana Christian Coalition, weighs in.

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On the Surprising Consequences of Senatorial Diaper-Sex

Vitter may well be much more able

as a senator

now than before

because people tend to learn from their mistakes.