Sunday, February 03, 2019

Poem Retrospective III

I've occasionally toyed with end-alliteration. It gives more options than rhyme usually does, but it's also rather difficult to make it sound natural while also making the alliteration genuinely significant for the effect of the poem. I think this is far and away my most successful attempt.


A Poem of St. Agnes

The little lambs on heaven's field
remind me of a girl who fought
against the darkness, for the fair,
whose heart was free from trembling fear,
who would not falter, did not fail,
but held her ground against the foe.
"I faithful stay to Spouse and Friend,
my Jesus; I am truly free
with him," she said, her voice not faint.
And then she bent her head, with faith
exposed her neck. The death-stroke fell.