POEM STARTER
Write a sonnet about something you learned recently.
Don’t worry about nailing iambic pentameter here – instead, try to meet the Shakespearean rhyme scheme ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
World War One
The U.S. stops to observe the war
The Monroe Doctrine confining thought
How democracy shakes at its core
How European battles grow fraught
“Make the world safe for democracy”
Wilson’s encouragement clammers loud
Americans sense atrocity
Their opposition to war avowed
Washington’s farewell address looms large
Foreign policy, neutrality
Into American psyche surcharge
But Wilson’s words snared morality
He swayed congress so into war we hurled
Victory made a new superpower in the world
This is lovely, Ruby.
I love the rhythm, especially towards the end:
“Foreign policy, neutrality // Into American psyche surcharge” — golden!
The lack of speed bumps (punctuation) give it a real pace.
Looking forward to reading more of your work!
