A piece without redeeming social worth
is often classed among obscenities.
Offensiveness without an edge of mirth,
with nastiness and gross gratuities,
is how the court defines the types of porn.
Another trait peculiar to all smut
is rapid loss of shock – the slap is worn
away as fast as a director’s cut.

So insult has to ever multiply.
The final climax needs an orgy scene,
more deviance, or violent reply –
whatever moves away from clear or clean.
The truest thing about pornography?
It has to ratchet up extremity.