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Fourteen Lines
Just what’s so magical about this number
that poets have obeyed its charm so long
repeating groups of sixes or octets
or foursquare stanzas poured into a song
tradition some say, others call it discipline
the skill to coax diversity from a mould
and how despite your claim that it’s not in
the nature of rebellion to enfold
Within itself some reference to its ancestry
perhaps there’s still an inner urge to follow rules
when innovating, try to keep creations free
of scorn like arrogant post modern schools
Yet when all’s said and done perhaps we may agree
that closing couplets stump – or set us free
© Johnmichael Simon
2012
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