In towns were gunfire sounds
like rain on tin roofs
children gather.
Children are educated.
While it rains on tin roofs
the new generation sits.
They will be educated
in infinitives.
The new generation sits
and listens to the words their fathers found,
those infinitives,
to express decades of distrust.
Words that fathers found
are instructed to sons.
Names from decades past recite
I hate, we hate, I kill, we kill .
Instructed to sons,
these words are not to be broken.
I hate, we hate, I kill, we kill .
Fear our force, respect our new language.
Not to be broken,
Children gather.
Fear enforces, language commands respect
in towns were gunfire sounds.
Author notes
An exercise in the pantoum form.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Whenever we put troops in places like Somalia I have to sit back and ask, "I wonder what we're Darfur?"
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(Ah, one suggestion though... reread the contest description and follow directions.)
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Very interesting and refreshing take on the pantoum. Emotional subject matter. Thanks for entering and good luck!
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