Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"WHO KILLED THE PLAN?" is a satirical poem written by Amos Russel Wells that critiques the tendency of organizations and individuals to create plans and then abandon them when they become inconvenient or difficult to implement.

The poem begins with a description of the birth of a plan, noting that it was "nurtured and cherished" and had the potential to achieve great things. However, as the plan begins to encounter obstacles and challenges, the speaker notes that "it fell by the wayside, neglected and forlorn."

The poem then goes on to describe the various people and organizations who may have been responsible for "killing" the plan, including those who failed to provide necessary resources or support, those who became distracted by other priorities, and those who simply lost interest in the plan over time.

The final stanza of the poem is particularly pointed, as the speaker notes that "we all had a hand in the deed" of killing the plan. This suggests that the failure to follow through on plans is not the fault of any one individual or organization, but rather a systemic issue that affects us all.

Overall, "WHO KILLED THE PLAN?" is a humorous and insightful critique of the tendency to create plans without committing to follow through on them. It encourages readers to reflect on their own roles in the failure of plans, and to take responsibility for ensuring that their own plans are not abandoned or neglected over time.

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