They say: “the pen is more mighty than the sword”.
I say: “let’s put that adage to the test.
America, for union and accord,
we need not greatness, just your better’s best.”
.
You need not be the greenest land on earth,
nor the keenest prize in a treasured chest.
America, I say: “for what it’s worth,
we need not greatness, just your better’s best.
.
When you advance yourself beyond today.
When you follow the sun from East to West.
America, I say: “that come what may,
we need not greatness, just your better’s best.”
.
America, in you we all invest;
we need not greatness, just your better’s best.
.
© Tim Grace, 1 November 2024
To the Reader:
All of those “nice Americans” have let us down; they have surrendered to the darker side of their national character. A backward search for ‘greatness’ will only serve to lock-down progress towards a better state of the union. Vested interests have taken hold of America’s future. And sadly, they see the constitution, democracy, and the rule of law as mere impediments; obstacles to be avoided – a fool’s game.
To the Poet:
Sometimes, as a poet, you have to put aside literary conventions so as to emphasise what you really want to say. In this sonnet, I’ve drawn upon a range of literary devices to construct a rhythmic narrative that’s constrained (ABAB, BBBB, CBCB, BB) – anchored to ‘best’ which is the landing-point of each stanza and the final couplet. In this way, I’ve done my ‘best’ to make my point – I was conceived in America!
One More Sonnet 
