Look, a periodical that runs the following box ad in its PERSONALS columns
can’t be all bad. (This is from p.74 of the current, June 24, issue.)
“Let Erato be Your Matchmaker! [Hang on a minute here: Wasn’t Erato the
Goddess of Discord?—JD]
“Write your personal ad in any of the following poetic forms and receive
deeply discounted rates and a FREE NYR reply box!
“Clerihew $125
“Limerick or Cinquain $135
“Triolet $180
“Sonnet $225
“Villanelle $250
“All poems will be printed in the August 12 Summer issue. The deadline for
materials and payment is June 28. For more information contact Kristen
Radecki at (212) 293-1630 or “
Always up for a poetic challenge, and naturally going for the
highest-scoring category, I offer the following villanelle to George Bush in
the kiss-up style perfected by that great (but pre-villanelle) poet Q.
Horatius Flaccus.
— A Villanelle for George W. Bush —
This is no petty struggle that you’re in.
And we know you’re the right man for these days.
You stood up to the challenge, and you’ll win.
Don’t bother with the media and their spin;
There’s nothing you can do to win their praise.
This is no petty struggle that you’re in.
Don’t let the insults get under your skin.
You’re not the type who from a true course strays.
You stood up to the challenge, and you’ll win.
The squawking of the fools at the U.N.
Means nothing; they care only for what pays.
This is no petty struggle that you’re in.
The people of this country won’t give in.
We’ll back you — never mind what Chirac says.
You stood up to the challenge, and you’ll win.
The folly of your critics will be seen
When History all this in the balance weighs;
This is no petty struggle that we’re in –
We stood up to the challenge, and we’ll win!