Sonnet
The definitive form, as well as the tradition of writing sonnets in sequences, were established by Petrarch (1304-74). Sonnets have been written in English since the 1530s.
Comic sonnets favor the Shakespearean and Spenserian patterns; the ending couplet facilitates a humorous twist.
by Bob McKenty
You mustn't throw away this faded verse.
Make 20 copies. Send to 20 friends.
If you ignore this warning, then a curse
Will fall on you. Your hair will get split ends.
You'll shortly lose the mates to all your socks
And dandelions will desecrate your yard.
Your firstborn will contract the chicken pox,
The cash machine consume your debit card.
Voracious termites will attack your house.
Your septic tank will start to overflow.
You'll turn the TV on and find your spouse
Appearing on the Jerry Springer Show.
Then, just when things have started looking better
You'll get another copy of this letter.
Big Deal
by Tom Riley
Why do they call me Bigfoot? I am big
All over. Why not Bigchest or Bighand?
Why not Big-something-else? I'd dance a jig
If I could be Bigbrain, Bigheart. How grand!
With all of these big parts at their command,
Folks just can't get their minds off my big feet.
It's something that I cannot understand.
I ponder it while perched on my big seat.
O little minds of little men, I greet
Your petty gab with big old hopeless sighs:
With your small-minded slanders I won't treat;
I see no promise with my big brown eyes.
You keep me in your little verbal hole.
I shall forgive you in my great big soul.
"Chain Poem" © 1999 Bob
McKenty, from The Formalist, winner of a Howard Nemerov award;
"Big Deal" © 2000 Tom Riley, from Light
Quarterly