critique of good bones by maggie smith

Yes, I love that poem. Although,

she really does overstate the terrible
by a factor of at least
ten. She does it
so quickly
and deftly
you barely notice
until it's over, and she's already

sold you.

She's sold you the poem.

And she's done it so beautifully, 
you don't begrudge at all
how grossly she's overstated
the terribleness of the world,

to sell you a poem.

Why, the world isn't half
of a half that terrible, you protest -

- and then grin. Because
she sold you the world, too.