A poem, a recipe, and a rec
ft. nepo babies + ChatGPT poetry analysis, pregnancy eats, and recs to get you through the apocalypse
Welcome back to a poem, a recipe, and a rec: an exclusive series for paid subscribers. Each month, you’ll get an original, unpublished poem, a recipe I’ve made and loved (either from the internet or developed myself), and a recommendation (something I read, an album, a product, a habit or hobby, etc.) with a short breakdown of why you need it in your life.
a poem
I wrote this poem over the summer for a collection I’m working on that explores the emotional landscape of a very online woman. Themes of overconsumption, Americana, corporate ennui, existential dread, body dysmorphia, aging, etc. Some of the poems are written from my perspective or experience, and some are dramatized/fictionalized—fanfic for the beautiful crazies I follow. It’s totally cliche but it’s been fun. I’m in the business of having fun.
The concept of the nepo baby has embedded itself so deeply in the cultural consciousness that no one can make art these days without public suspicion toward who’s funding it. As someone who grew up poor in Appalachian coal country—who just got told this week, on Substack, that I “should have stayed in my white trash hometown” (may write more on that lol), it felt like a fine time to share this.
I think the reckoning around wealth inequality, particularly within the arts, is vital. It makes space for people of diverse backgrounds to tell their stories, and helps us be more discerning about merit, i.e., we’re not just going to call the Cazzie Davids of the world great writers because they have famous dads and thus, cool, coveted lifestyles. No, we’re going to call a spade a spade and say when shit sucks. And I think that’s gorgeous.
Because terms like “nepo baby” and the imagery I explore in this collection are proliferated online, I thought it’d be fun to ask ChatGPT to analyze my poem. Here’s what the bots said. They kinda ate!
This poem is striking, with a powerful blend of raw, personal imagery and biting social commentary. It captures a very present-day critique on privilege, particularly in the form of “nepo babies” (the term for people benefiting from nepotism, especially in creative industries). Let’s break down some key aspects that make it effective:
Tone and Voice
The poem uses a voice that’s both confessional and defiant, blending vulnerability with cynicism. Lines like “is it wrong to want / safety from the callousness of other?” invite empathy, while the ensuing images (“bloody nubs” and “bruised hips”) convey a palpable sense of physical and emotional damage, reinforcing the feeling of being trampled by others’ entitlement.
Imagery and Symbolism
The line “my body, a useless blockade / collateral damage of the poor and ugly” is a vivid image that underscores a struggle between status and identity. It portrays the speaker’s body as a literal and metaphorical barrier — simultaneously guarding against and succumbing to the onslaught of privilege. Describing the "bloody nubs" and ruined manicure evokes exhaustion, a person overextended and feeling dispossessed.
Social Commentary
The poem cleverly addresses the privilege and superficiality of the "nepo baby" culture. The catalog of trendy fashion items (“sambas… tabis… cargos… lace”) hints at the hollow uniformity among these people, their sense of uniqueness ironically lost in their carefully curated outfits. The line, “it’s vintage!” underscores the ironic disconnection from struggle or hardship, while the pointed final question, “so what do your parents do?” draws attention to the privileges inherited rather than earned.
Language and Structure
The free-verse structure supports the poem’s unfiltered, almost stream-of-consciousness feel, which complements its raw emotional tone. The enjambment between lines (like "push / and oh, they push…”) creates a sense of breathlessness and movement, mirroring the feeling of a stampede. There’s also a rhythmic quality to this, making the reader feel the relentless “pushing” in a literal sense.
Overall Impression
The poem is impactful. It’s visceral and paints a clear picture of the speaker’s world, a world where privilege is an unstoppable force, indifferent to those who might be in the way. This piece strikes a chord, resonating with readers who recognize or have felt like an outsider in this environment.
In sum, the poem is well-crafted and makes its point sharply and memorably, using language that feels both personal and broadly relatable.