A Loose Cannon

It is time to make a switch. I’m in the mood to write a series of acrostic poems. I’ve tackled the task before, but I would like to explore this style of poetry again. It fits my challenge to select different forms of poetry that start with a certain letter during the month. I selected the letter A for January. The acrostic poem has been around for centuries. The first record of the use of this style was in the prophecies of the Sibyl. Legend implies that these poems predict the Trojan War and other historical events. Samples of this poetry also were discovered at Pompeii. I am not hinting that I am writing prophetic poetry. I simply enjoy writing in this style. This acrostic poem is called A Loose Cannon.

Definition of an acrostic poem and its relationship to A Loose Cannon.

An acrostic poem starts when the poet uses the first letter of each line of verse to form a word, phrase, or sentence. The poem deals with the subject of the letters selected to form a stream of thought. The poem doesn’t have any rules concerning meter or rhythm. A poet may try to do both, but there is no rule regarding how the poem should be formed, except the first letter of each line must have a special meaning

A Loose Cannon

And you stood there lingering, and you said,

Let’s break all their crazy asinine rules.
Ostracize the clumsy habits long dead.
Odious imaginings of the fools
Say what you mean now, and mean what you say
Else, life’s current will sweep us away

Can we ignore how things have always been
And become a dangerous loose cannon?
Negotiating with a cruel, wicked wind
Noisemakers beyond every reason
Oscillating to music in our head
Not reliable for any season

Who is Molly Shea?

Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh.  To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.

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