“Which now is better– 

Pure reason or rhyme, 

A man of letters, 

Or a keeper of time? 

 

His meaning covered 

In worthless doggerel, 

Is undiscovered 

In his foggerel.  

Reason is active, 

But rhyme is a ruse, 

A silly distractive 

No one should use. 

 

Give to the reader 

The unadorned facts, 

In timely order 

With logic exact, 

 

Without delusion 

On premise and precept, 

Drawing conclusions 

We all should accept. 

 

So pound in a nail, 

And mind the gap, 

Now ration the ale 

For the mindless sap.” 

 

“Now see here!” says Rhyme. 

“I’m starting to tire. 

You’ve taken my time 

And metered your ire. 

 

Your premise is weak; 

Your feelings, ration! 

It’s truth we should seek; 

Control your passion! 

 

The problem, you see, 

Is not one of form. 

We must all agree, 

Make thinking the norm. 

 

Writers now dish out 

In post-modern times, 

Tirades and rants, but 

No reason OR rhyme. 

 

Poetic structure 

Can order and calm, 

Paint a true picture, 

A deep, thoughtful balm. 

 

Writers of all stripes 

Alike have a choice– 

Give vent to their gripes, 

Or give thought a voice.” 

 

Teri Ong 

June 2018