¶ … Night the Crystals Broke
This ballad begins
On a far-away shore
A land she knew so well.
This land was green, filled with tropical sun
And her house was filled with mirth
Which also lay etched on their faces
Then the fires came
The smoke from the Ark
And the disintegration of the star
Quick, Quick,
They left
Quick Quick
They left
Her belongings stuffed
In a bag the size of her heart
Which beat
Faster Faster
When the arms of that Statue
Embraced her.
This ballad conveys the powerful theme of anti-Semitism and the experience of immigration. The speaker need not be anyone famous, although it seems that the speaker might be referring to an ancestor. Musing on the immigrant experience from the perspective of generations later conveys a powerful message of freedom and hope. Although the ideas could be developed better, and it has an irregular meter that poses rhythmic problems, the poem does fulfill the basic tenets of a lyrical ballad. The repetition of words like "quick" and "fast" complement the tone of tension that pervades the poem.
II. Tough Love
Recalling the way you smelled
When I first beheld your breath,
I now cry more than you when your body
Separated from mine
For the last time.
Recalling the way you cried
When I first put you on the bus
I now laugh more than you when
You burst out
After your first A.
Seeing you now
When your eyes are red and your breath reeks
I now know not what to do
You shun me
You need me.
Commentary: This is a free verse quatrain poem, and it is divided strictly into three stanzas of four lines each. The poem is rather brief but pithy; it captures the speaker's emotions rather than attempting at narrative. As a mother, the speaker has been through her child's ups and downs. The child's current state is troubling for the mom, who concludes, "you need me." The poet uses repetition skillfuly, as with beginning each stanza with a progressive verb ending in -- ing, which suggests ongoing activity. The poet's issue has yet to be resolved, and this lack of resolution is conveyed in the diction of the poem.
III. Shoe Sonnet
The shoes I see they stare at me all day
All sorts of colors that I love to see
Some begging to be worn so I can play
Some others that just shout please look at me!
The stunning array of soles in the world
Is not unlike the fields of wild flowers
From seed to bud to stem to leaf unfurled
So much like superheroes with powers
To look upon the leather and the heels
And the sequins and the sparkles they bear
Each pair, distinct, unique in its appeals
I need, I want, to have them all to share
The key to happiness is the right shoe
Even those who wear one pair know it's true.
Commentary: This seemingly silly sonnet nevertheless keeps to the traditional Shakespearean structure, which demands iambic pentameter and a structured ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme. Moreover, the sonnet is developed according to the requisite thematic structure: which entails the opening metaphor, the development of that metaphor, and a resolution that sometimes involves a sort of "twist." The metaphor here is cloaked well, but it seems to be poorly developed. It seems as if the poet wants to compare shoe diversity to the diversity in humanity. Yet the ultimate goal is not accomplished as well as it could be by the final couplet.
IV. Haikus celebrate
Haikus celebrate
Frivolous human beings
Shunning the dour
V. Parrots
Cheerful loud squawking
Dancing when the rain arrives
Freely flying now
VI. Skeletons
Skeletons and death
Monstrous shadows in the night
Happy Halloween
Commentary: This trio of haikus offers a delightful insight into the incredible potential and range of this poetic form. The first of the haikus, "Haikus Celebrate" is a reflexive celebration of the poetic form, which in turn celebrates the whimsical or "frivolous" side of human nature. "Shunning the dour," the speaker suggests that the purpose of a haiku should be to uplift and energize the soul. A haiku may seem frivolous, but that side of human nature must be explored. The second haiku of this collection is called "Parrots," but the titular bird is mentioned nowhere in the verse. Instead, the poet paints a lively portrait of the brightly colored creatures. Because it is about nature, this is the only haiku of the trio that resembles traditional Japanese haiku. Finally, we have "Skeletons." "Skeletons" is a strange haiku that seems gothic at first, but offers a clever and amusing twist at the end.
VII. Acrostic Fun
Belly full
Eat some pork
Enjoy each sip
Repeat
Commentary:...
The verse refers to beer, as the speaker talks about a full belly, snacking on pork, enjoying each sip, and repeating all of the above. There is no deeper meaning contained within this acrostic, and nor does there need to be. Although it is brief, this four-line poem captures the essence of a true acrostic.
VIII. Limerick
There once was a man named Josh
With dreads as long as Pete Tosh
When he cut his hair
There were bugs crawling in there
And all he said was "Oh my gosh!"
Commentary: This is possibly the worst limerick ever written. Although it conforms to the general structure, form, and rhyme scheme of the limerick, and although most limericks are silly, this one is particularly painful. The punch line is limp, and the reader feels a sense of disgust rather than being tickled by the typical humor inherent in a more classic and classy version of the folk style. The Irish would have cause to declare war if it knew that its heritage of clever verse had been so degraded.
IX. Blank Verse/Iambic Pentameter
Howling winds swept through the open pasture
A horse it whinnied and it was afraid
Its master ran to gather up supplies
The funnel, it approached them far too fast.
Before the man could reach the general store
The skies had broken open with the rain
Already the plains back home were flooded.
The horse it struggled in the growing mud
Inside the house his baby was screaming
Feeling more its mothers and father's fear
Than its own reaction to nature's way
Such is the destructive power of fear.
Commentary: This blank verse is penned in iambic pentameter, with rhythmic lines of ten metric feet each. The theme of fear emerges in this poem from the start, and diction like "afraid," and "fear" support the main theme. The poet explores multiple types of fear, too: the animal's basic fear of an impending storm; the fear of the parents for children, and also the existential threat that fear creates in the psyche of human beings. Imagery and motif of an impending storm also shape the prevailing tone of the poem. A storm is not in itself destructive, but fear certainly is. The iambic pentameter ensures a compelling rhythmic structure that is not undermined by the use of rhyme. Blank verse aids the sense of tension.
X. March
April's war cry
Soldiers march
Into the darkness, the mud clawing their boots
Marching forward as one, like bees
Swarming, a long Million Man March
Fighting for rights, freedoms, principles
Beware the Ides of March
When Caesar died
A March of Dimes is just a charity
Who are we helping
On our long march to the grave?
Commentary: This is a free verse poem that capitalizes on the word "march," and its many connotations in the English language. The month of March is named after the Greek god of war, Mars, making the imagery of the soldiers in war especially meaningful in this poem.
References
Fulford, T., 2006. Landscape, Liberty, and Authority. Cambridge University Press.
Kallich, M., Gray, J.C. & Rodney, R.M., 1973. A Book of the Sonnet. Ardent Media.
Lee, M., 2007. Poetry Criticism. Gale.
Leech, G.N., 1969. A linguistic guide to English Poetry
"Rhyme." Retrieved online: http://www.loske.org/html/school/english/rhyme.pdf
Victor, W. 2010. Creative writing now. [Online]. Accessed: http://www.creative-writing-now.com/types-of-poems.html
Night the Crystals Broke Write where you got inspiration from? The inspiration from this poem comes from my grandmother and her family, who lived through the pogroms and just before the Nazis took over Hungary. The title refers to the Kristallnacht, the event in which the Nazis burned synagogues and their religious items, and broke the windows. They also broke the windows of the local businesses. This poem also refers to