Eight-line Poems

American Gothic

American Gothic

Steady, Martha, don’t let them see

the deep joy of toil to build the prosperity

that enables the frivolity of their careless lives. They must imagine only the grim
fact of honest labor on the faces of thee and me

if they are ever to understand the emptiness and waste of their ways. Only if we

maintain this steadfast, stolid bearing can we personify the simple truths that yet
might rescue them from the meaningless swamp of modernity.

Yes, Henry,

though there are times when even I find it hard to believe that light can penetrate
such unremitting darkness in the soul, such foolishness and idiocy.

But you are right and, for the moment, I must endure and let them be as they will
be.


Line count: 8. I have separated each line with a space to show that there are indeed eight lines, even though some are longer than others.
Rhymed aaaaaaaa
For Express It In Eight, 07.03.23
Prompt: The painting American Gothic by Grant Wood.