Oh my dear professor fair
Why do you restrict my word?
It’s a thought I cannot bear
My inner ember crackles.
Desert my poem’s justice
I will force myself to do
But just for this unjust class
So as not to jolt the room.
Should I only use three words?
Will all ten be too many?
I write this all just to tug
I do not wish to startle.
Listen to the whisper from the bell
A story green with envy
This whispering bell will tell
A poem’s tragic ending.
For this poem misses one
Thing other poems can have,
A unique sense of beauty
That comes from this writer’s hand.
Author's Notes/Comments:
I wrote this poem for my English 106 class...my silly professor put limitations on poetry. Because of this, this poem isn't as good as it could be. It is only as good as the limitations would allow it to be. Here were the limitations I had to follow: a. Each line must be either seven or nine syllables long. (It might help you to establish a standard pattern for each stanza).
b. Only two words can be over three syllables long.
c. You may not use the following words: realize, truth, happy, sad, perfect, love, feelings, heart, tears, cry, lonely. Remember William Carlos Williams’ quote: “No ideas but in things.” Use concrete language as opposed to abstract language. Strong verbs are better than adjectives, usually.
d. You must use three of the following ten words: desert, green, jolt, word, ember, startle, bear, whisper, tug, bell.
she also didn't want it to rhyme, and it had to have 14 lines at least. This poem kind of says...well...fuck her.
It's not the best poem. I personally don't like it much at all for it's poetical value, but because of the situation and the limitations that you were given I respect and admire it more than anything really. If i was given that assignment, I would have done the same thing. I know you love it though, so I love it as well, because the poets opinion of the piece is what matters the most.