I hear many barbaric screams
from stages and media waves.
Content as noxious latrines
inhaled into cochlear caves.
Where is the flow, rhyme, or form;
and where has the soul within gone?
Why with wrath does it swarm;
and why rhythm does it have none?
I consider minstrels of old;
such beautiful verses they had.
Rhythm and rhyme very bold
if living today they'd be sad!
Did Dickinson need be empowered?
Was Wadsworth filled with regret?
Was Shakespeare's writings all soured
with profane words were they soaking wet?
Call to action I now:
Turn back to forms of the old!
Bring back the rhyme and the flow,
with superior form of the old!
The classic style was not broken,
and rhyme never was bad.
Bring back words fitly spoken,
and let the profane be unsaid
-Michael Newberry
