deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Company of Gods
Who’d want to keep the company of gods?
They’re vain, ill-tempered, selfish and unfair;
In any game they’ll always rig the odds.
They never lose, they don’t know how to share.
The Greek lot never played by any rules,
Zeus lied and cheated, threw his weight about,
Sated his lust, treated men like fools,
Devoid of pity, conscience or self-doubt.
But would the Bible’s God be to your taste?
Can you imagine having Him round to dinner?
Vindictive, vengeful, always laying waste,
And it’s hell for ever for the poor, weak sinner.
No, gods, I think, should entertain themselves,
Along with monsters, fairies, gnomes and elves.
They’re vain, ill-tempered, selfish and unfair;
In any game they’ll always rig the odds.
They never lose, they don’t know how to share.
The Greek lot never played by any rules,
Zeus lied and cheated, threw his weight about,
Sated his lust, treated men like fools,
Devoid of pity, conscience or self-doubt.
But would the Bible’s God be to your taste?
Can you imagine having Him round to dinner?
Vindictive, vengeful, always laying waste,
And it’s hell for ever for the poor, weak sinner.
No, gods, I think, should entertain themselves,
Along with monsters, fairies, gnomes and elves.
Published 30th May 2011
| Edited 10th May 2012
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likes 3
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The author encourages honest critique.
30th May 2011 4:30pm
Ha, a tongue-in-cheek piece there. I do very much love the sonnet form, noticed it immediately as I read it. Line 7 needs one more syllable (I'd suggest adding it at the beginning of the line, as it starts off on a stressed syllable as it is). Lines 10 and 12 have 12 syllables each, and in addition line 12 is reversed (starts on a stressed syllable instead of unstressed). All in all though, a very fun read.
31st May 2011 8:58am
Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the input. I'd take issue with you, however, on the variations you point out. The sonnet does not have to be composed of strict iambic pentameters - this would produce a very wooden, sing-song rhythm. Occasionally, a trochaic foot is substituted for an iamb, which leads to a more natural, speech-like effect, and sometimes an extra syllable can be absorbed into the metre, just as syllables are occasionally dropped, so that the 'pause' acts as the missing syllable. Shakespeare constantly varied his lines, as in for example, Sonnet 29: 'When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes'. If you examine this, you will see it contains several trochaic variations, as well as lines which have extra syllables (eg: 'Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising'). If it's good enough for Will, it's good enough for me, but I'm glad you liked it.
28th Feb 2012 11:11pm
Very interesting topic and EXTREAMLY good use of words to portray your ideas. I very much respect this poem.
4th Mar 2013 12:39pm
