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Sonnet "To the Mad King"

 

So far away, the deserts where we forge
From spotless innocence our coffined youth.
Ignore the grieving, childless parents, George,
Persuade as always with imperfect truth.
Thy banners folded, passed as if a gift
Unto our questing widows, sole reply.
Aim for the stars, and see attention drift,--
How easily accepting of the lie!
Poor amputees are swept under the rug,
Imparting calm upon the public’s mind,
Until we choke on corses that we dug:
Eventually our eyes shall ope and find
  That, in our midst, the throne was shat upon
  By thee, O painted Whore of Babylon!

Author notes

Okay, a few clarifications for those who require them:

*corses* is an archaic spelling of "corpses," not a typo, and
*ope* is an old poetic form of "open."

In addition I'd like to note that I thought it was kind of interesting that our foe in the Revolutionary War was George III, also known as "Mad King George."  I figured the reference was rather apropos, considering.  I also felt it was appropriate to use a Biblical reference in there for our Good Ole Boy, and the use of one such reference from Revelations was the only one I considered.

Enjoy, and thanks!

- Giovanni
Written July 7th, 2004

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Comments

1 - 19 of 19

  • Lapis Rose
    July 30, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    excellent

    I can appreciate the sentiments in your words. I know someone that could have been a victim of 9-11 but, was not in any of the buildings due to illness.

    Anyway, I always appreciate a good sonnet. I've been learning this form lately, myself. I sort of take aoffense at the tree hugging thing but, only because I like trees, not because of certain people.


  • bigpapa
    July 17, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    This is fun!!!

    Brilliant rebuttle my friend. Bravo. I love the way you articulate your points rather that lashing out on emotion (as I do.) A debate on this topic would be futile, but the only thing that still seems to be a twisted view of yours is that Dubya "stole" his way into the white house. You know, just because my emotions get the better of me more often than I'd care to admit, doesn't mean that I am a total idiot and my views and opinions are completely devoid of any research or data. EVERY SINGLE RECOUNT conducted in Florida (even the "final recount" done by the outgoing party) clearly revealed Bush as the winner. Just so you don't continue to doubt my capacity for anykind of independent reasoning...I am a hard-core republican that disagrees with quite a few of Bush's policies and agenda's, and I will be voting for Kerry/Edwards. Also, just how do you plan to demonstrate you "manhood" to me? I am game ANYTIME, but I don't know where to find you (except online.)Oh! I got so worked up that I forgot to add, very well written as usual.


  • macandrew
    July 14, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    excellent

    No matter how far back we go or whether we deal with current times, justification for war and it attrocities always seems to be very clear. Surely there must be a department of government totally dedicated to this type of misinformation.

    Beautifully written. A very strong poem.
    John


  • nukerliu
    July 11, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    i appoglize -- i can see how the meter works (line 13) if i read it another way


  • AutoPilate
    July 11, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    I'd like to know where I bolloxed the meter, I really thought, as I penned it, that it was kosher. I usually don't take suggestions from my readers, but in this case I want to be as flawless in my execution as I was in my message.

    Thanks for reading, and seriously, I truly would like to know where I messed up the rhythm.

    - Giovanni


  • Just Another Star
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    uhm... yea that made absolutely no sense to me.. but im a simple kind of girl, you know. I did like the sound of you tho and i thought the words fit nicely. Thanks for sharing
    Sarah


  • Ladie Lee
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    great

    I'm so bloody non political, I can't really comment on that level. But despite I loved the form, on of my favorites always, and you did very well with except that like nkerliu i do think it was just a touch off. Good imagrey, another good piece from The Man (despite comments to the oppisite)
    Curtain
    Ladie


  • nukerliu
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    That, in our midst, the throne was shat upon
    By thee, O painted Whore of Babylon!

    that's a very intersting way to end the poem! lol shat -- that's great too!
    my only problem w/ this is that some of the iambic pentameter is broken.
    ~lewis

  • pestilance
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    i like this... its so well...
    i like it


  • -LizBTropez-
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Good thing I read the author's comments. The only word I wasn't familiar with was corses... and let me second everything you said in the reply above. People need to open their friggin eyes and learn the truth, not accept the brainwashing. Anyways, your poem, excellent as always. Perfect meter and rhyming, and word choice. Stark imagery and comparisons give this argument real power. Keep on spreading truth, and soon lies will disappear.


  • AutoPilate
    July 10, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    I'm a spineless sissy bitch because I express my dislike for our "President?" I am a man, pal, and I'll be glad to demonstrate that any time, you know where to find me. You apparently equate my disagreeing with the leadership for which I did not vote with cowardice, which is such a fallacy that I'm forced to question your capacity for any kind of independent reasoning.

    My poem has nothing to do with the war or 9/11, it's about that clown who stole his way into the White House, pure and simple. That you would sink to petty name-calling and profanity says more about you and your narrow-minded views than of mine.

    You seem so very confident in your conviction that our war in Iraq is justified by the 9/11 attacks. I shouldn't have to remind you that Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with those attacks, and anyone who still believes so in spite of irrefutable facts is just willfully myopic. You asked me if I personally knew anyone who died during the attacks. I pose to you this question: how many people do you personally know that died in Iraq? For you, for me and my freedom to express myself? Doesn't it strike you the least bit strange that, even though we captured Hussein (or Saddam, since you know him on such a personal level) half a year ago and is currently on trial, our children we send abroad are still dying? And don't even try waving that "they fight so that you can enjoy your freedom of speech" banner around like a trump card. Realistically, who is going to come here and take my rights away from me, other than your precious Dubya and his cronies?

    Oh, for the record, no where in my sonnet did I even begin to mention Bush's anti-environment agenda, so your labeling me a tree-hugger is, to say the least, slightly beyond the realm of my comprehension. I'm not the smartest man to ever grace God's good green earth, but surely I should be able to make sense of your distractive sideshow antics, n'est-ce pas?

    I can only assume that you felt, as do your idols, that a direct attack based on emotion rather than logic and reason, filled with venomous libel would win the day. In the end, you're only repeating the same tired and false mantra anyone with a closed mind spits like rote prayer. Well, my friend, pray in one hand and shit in the other, then tell me which one is heavier.

    Thanks for reading!

    - Giovanni
    Edited on Jul 10, 11:21 p.m. because 'I added facts and truth'.


  • bigpapa
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    pure liberal crap!!!!!!

    I would expect nothing less from you. What a tree-hugging sissy bitch! Be a man goddamn it. There are still some things worth fighting for. You wouldn't even be afforded the opportunity to express yourself in such a forum if it weren't for the "coffined youth" that have fought to protect the rights of narrow minded lemmings like yourself! You are entitled to your opinion because this is a free country (no thanks to idiots like you)but your opinion sickens me. Do you know anyone personally that was killed in the attacks on 9-11?
    What if it was your mom or dad or sister or friend? We were sucker-punched by terrorists and we are defending ourselves. If you wouldn't do the same then you are a spineless piece of shit!


  • Pusher
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    9/10

    Very good dude! super powerful and potently political, i like it, keep fighting the good fight


  • blondeoverblue
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Woah! Very powerful language, I like this very much. I've only had a couple of bashes at sonnets and then gave up, you've done a grand job here

    Kat xxxx

  • mina nagi
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    I take my hat off to you… very nicely done… thanx for sharing..
    mina
    ps: Thanx for explaining “corses” and ”ope”


  • MargaretG
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply

    Excellent!

    Thank you for the vocabulary, I had already run to my dictionary for "corses".
    I love this sonnet. The meter is beautiful, the rhymes are lovely, and the figurative language and allusions are stunning. I reserve comment on the politics, because I don't vote in USA.

  • TillLemonsFall
    July 9, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    Ok seriosuly you made somethign that didn't make sence at all make sence and you know...it's hard for me to get snece...normally that is. Anyways this was great it was a wonderful poem imparticular the part...."That, in our midst, the throne was shat upon By thee, O painted Whore of Babylon!" You paint such a picture and the words make this huge statement and impact on the poem. You have a way with your words that is just amazing...lemon.


  • Dropp Deadd
    July 7, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    wow, it's just amazing!!!i like your style!keep on rockin'!xx


  • PurpleSky
    July 7, 2004
    Edit | Reply
    You always put such deep meaning into your writes and you definatly have your own style which in my opinion makes you better than the average person on here. you always do good work and this is no exception this was nicely written

1 - 19 of 19