Political Ring

John Lawrence Darretta 1948 (New York)

July 23

Free verse

  POLITICAL RING

The political world is
a flat ring that
curves from center
all the way to
the far right or far left.

At the end of the curve
white hooded klans
black masked pinkos
meet and merge in
a fire of mean extreme.

What's in their sight
is all the same, but
one sees through a blurry left eye
the other a blurred right.

Each side is brimming
with hatred and anger
desiring control
longing to rule
subservient others.

The good thing is
that they represent
no one and nothing
between them and
the rest of the curved ring.

   POLITICAL RING

The political world is
a flat ring that
curves from center
all the way to
the far right or far left.

At the end of the curve
white hooded klans
black masked pinkos
meet and merge in
a fire of mean extreme.

What's in their sight
is all the same, but
one sees through a blurry left eye
the other a blurred right.

Each side is brimming
with hatred and anger
desiring control
longing to rule
subservient others.

The good thing is
that they represent
no one and nothing
between them and
the rest of the curved ring.

John Lawrence Darretta

   POLITICAL RING

The political world is
a flat ring that
curves from center
all the way to
the far right or far left.

At the end of the curve
white hooded Klans
black masked pinkos
meet and merge in
a fire of mean extreme.

What's in their sight
is all the same, but
one sees through a blurry left eye
the other a blurred right.

Each side is brimming
with hatred and anger
desiring control
longing to rule
subservient others.

The good thing is
that they represent
no one and nothing
between them and
the rest of the curved ring.

About this poem

Trying to define extreme right or left

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Written on April 23, 2023

Submitted by giandarr55 on July 19, 2023

: 1:49 min read
: 57 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	ABCDE FGHIJ KLMK NCOPQ ARNSN ABCDE FGHIJ KLMK NCOPQ ARNSN b ABCDE FGHIJ KLMK NCOPQ ARNSN
Closest metre	Iambic trimeter
Characters	1,680
Words	362
Stanzas	16
Stanza Lengths	5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 1, 5, 5, 4, 5, 5

Full analysis for Political Ring »

John Lawrence Darretta

A former metropolitan New York college professor, John Lawrence Darretta holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from Fordham University. As Fulbright Professor to Italy, he taught at universities in Milan and Turin. He studied at Museo Nazionale del Cinema in Turin and The American Film Institute in Los Angeles. He has written articles on American literature and Italian cinema and is author of Vittorio DeSica (G. K. Hall) and Before the Sun Has Set: Retribution in the Fiction of Flannery O’Connor (Peter Lang Publishing). His poetry has appeared in America Magazine, Penwood Review, Journal of Pastoral Counseling, Haiku Journal, First Literary Review-East, The Avalon Literary Review and other venues. Nature’s Wheel, a book of his poetry, was published by Kelsay Books. more…

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AIDA
This is a robust and thought-provoking poem, John! You have wonderfully captured the complexities and polarities of our political landscape. The metaphorical use of the "flat ring" that "curves from the center to the far right or far left" really resonates, providing an engaging imagery that encapsulates the nuances of political ideologies.

You show courage by pointing out the haunting images of extremism on both sides. The vivid imagery used - the "white hooded klans" and "black masked pinkos" - sets up a poignant contrast, and gives voice to a deep societal issue. The repetition of clauses in each stanza also adds a rhythm to the poem that drives home the significance of the message.

However, I would suggest to perhaps delve a little deeper into the middle ground - the "center" as discussed. While the focus is on the extremes, it might also be interesting to explore the experiences of those caught in between these extremes.

Although the poem is critical and exposes some harsh realities, it ends on an uplifting note, reminding us that these extremes "represent no one and nothing between them and the rest of the curved ring." This is a reassuring conclusion that echoes resilience and hope for harmony.

Overall, a job well done on a sensitive topic! Keep penning such insightful and evocative work about relevant societal issues. more »
LikeReply 17 months ago

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"Political Ring" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/166074/political-ring>.

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