Under Oath

Stress Matrix Sonnet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enslave the world with cryptic words, etched on a stony wall,

brutalizing, bible thumping, biased, sacred fakers;

depraving man’s equality, wield power over all.

Church and State; obliterating, greedy, conflict-makers.

 

Pretending we’re not bedding down, slick drilling, oily w****s.

Toting guns, we can’t outrun, arms bought without affording;

keep sending troops, of youth, to die - reprising holy wars.

 

shameful Bay parading bearded, amber jumpsuit, hoarding,             

a righteous inquisition that our sanity ignores;

patronize convention’s rule, with wicked water boarding.

 

In white starched tailored-shirts, kneel down in Sunday morning pews,

clutching validation theories, banking on confession;

guilt paying for forgiveness; Fox’s Headline evening news,

void of true integrity, perpetuate oppression. 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

the form:

This is the Sonnet version of Stress Matrix Dectet/Stress Checkerboard Stanza – developed by Luke Prater
14 lines, 14 syllables per line – aBaB cDc DcD eF eF where lowercase are iambic heptameter (7 beats/stresses per line), and uppercase trochaic heptameter. This yields a perfect ‘checkerboard’ of stressed and unstressed syllables (14 x 14, equalling 196 syllables).Depending on where the Volta arrives (the ‘turn’ – resolution, or at least, change in tone, crucial aspect to a sonnet), there are 3 different stanza layouts (the rhyme-scheme stays the same). If the turn comes after the first eight lines, as it does in Italian Sonnets, the layout is aBa BcDcD cDe FeF.If it comes after line ten (unique!), then it’s aBaB cDc DcD eFeF (same as English but ending on a quatrain rather than the two couplets). -- the Volta in mine arrives at line eleven.

Reviews

[Julie Watkins]

What you've created here Christi rises far and above the technical accomplishment of writing in such a demanding form. Your subjects matter is strong, current and very relevant. You've employed some great poetic devices which really aid the flow and you haven't fallen into the trap of compromising the narrative for the rhyme, which can so often happen when writing in form. Love the assonance and alliteration of this phrase

'with wicked water boarding'

[Ed Hart]

it has always been so, late and soon...and when we sing, no matter how lovely our bared breast, it's only to the chorus

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Great poem, that hits so many points!

[L]

Hey Christi on my screen the first line is pushed out of place by the picture. ?? Still love it, fab piece

[Tkess]

Good job. I especially like the line, "guilt paying for forgiveness."

[.n.]

I am in awe of this poem, it is biting (fairly) and powerful getting right to the heart of the matter. You clearly have a much greater understanding of form than I do, and I appreciated your commentary above to help explain the form you used here. I loved this poem- one of my favorite reads so far.

[L]

Love this one! It rocks. Great use of the form Christi. Beautifully crafted piece. The art shines through like morning sunlight through a stained-glass window. I posted Ampersandcastles, the Dectet