Analysis of Rules

Michael Matalon 1973 (New York)



There are rules we know
and rules that hide
All we know is
we must abide

It starts off simple
tender with care
Don’t touch that!
and don’t go there!

We get to school
we yearn to learn
Soon we realize
it’s not our turn

There are others too
under the same rules
Being taught by rote
Being taught by fools

We’re conditioned for work
That’s a basic rule
If we want better work
pay for better school

The rules that hide
preached often by mothers
Things not to say or do
out of empathy for others

There are holy rules
There are money rules
There are driving rules
There are ruling rules

All being controlled
By power pools
All being powered
By greedy tools

What you chose to do
is not up to you
You must follow or fail
to pay what is due

So follow along
as best you can
Follow the rules
designed for man

Pay your tax
Pay what’s due
Pay the interest
Pay what’s new

Stay within the lines
and stay on the course
Keep your focus forward
like blinders on a horse

So what needs to be done
is not only up to you
Make sure to bite off
less than you can chew


Scheme XAXA XBXB CDXD EFXF GCGC AHEH FFFF XFIF EEXE XJFJ XEXE XKIK XEXE
Poetic Form Quatrain  (92%)
Metre 11111 0111 1111 1101 11110 1011 111 0111 1111 1111 1110 11101 11101 10011 10111 10111 001011 10101 111101 11101 0111 110110 111111 11100110 11101 11101 11101 11101 11001 1101 11010 1101 11111 11111 111011 11111 11001 1111 1001 0111 111 101 1010 101 10101 01101 111010 110101 111111 1110111 11111 11111
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 1,011
Words 210
Sentences 3
Stanzas 13
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 52
Letters per line (avg) 16
Words per line (avg) 4
Letters per stanza (avg) 63
Words per stanza (avg) 16

About this poem

Rules make up social structures

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Written on August 08, 2008

Submitted by Michaelmatalon on October 21, 2021

Modified on March 09, 2023

1:03 min read
233

Michael Matalon

I love to discuss topics relating to physics, spirituality & business. I run a private equity investment company, but in my spare time I enjoy writing. more…

All Michael Matalon poems | Michael Matalon Books

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