by Rolph David
The page awaits, too silent to forgive,
Each empty line a dare I can’t defend.
What if I write what shouldn’t even live?
What if I start, and ruin where I end?
A phrase begins — I edit while I write,
Then stop, and stare, and scroll, and check the time.
The sentence fights its own pathetic fight,
Too scared to be too dull, too sharp, too prime.
I think of all the better things I’ve m...
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Saturday 17th May 2025 12:10 pm
writer’s block sonnet perfectionism fear of failure creative paralysis procrastination white sheet syndrome poetry self-doubt artistic struggle
by Rolph David
In a world where fear is ambient and trust decays by the hour, Vine and Punishment strips the illusion of control from
everyday life and leaves only the threat that was always there. It doesn’t warn of collapse—it insists you’re already
living in it, surrounded by silent rules, arbitrary power, and a quiet violence that feels normal only because it’s constant.
A nod to *Dostoevsky’s explor...
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Sunday 4th May 2025 7:02 pm
modern life jungle metaphor psychological tension urban paranoia surveillance dark satire sonnet existential dread societal critique
by Rolph David
In a grotesque display of ego and irreverence, Donald Trump crowned himself a mock pope
on his own media platform, Truth Social—just days after solemnly attending a funeral in Rome.
This biting sonnet lays bare the vulgarity of spectacle overpowering sanctity, turning mourning
into meme and the Eternal City into a stage for narcissism.
When fools parade in robes they’ve never e...
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Saturday 3rd May 2025 9:29 am
Trump sonnet papal parody political commentary Truth Social Rome blasphemy funeral ego mockery religious symbolism narcissism
by Rolph David
“The Bitter Cup” reflects the themes of enduring hardship and finding strength
in the face of suffering, inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Surrounded by Good Powers...”
The sonnet explores the idea of accepting life’s trials with quiet courage, symbolised by
the "bitter cup," and trusting that even through pain, we move towards light and renewal.
It echoes Bonhoeffer’s own spirit of res...
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Thursday 10th April 2025 1:43 pm
The Bitter Cup sonnet suffering resilience hope strength courage hardship inspiration faith Bonhoeffer
by Rolph David
This sonnet addresses the irony of calling someone "coloured," highlighting the contrast between black skin, which remains constant, and white skin, which changes with emotional or physical states. This poem reflects on how the colour of one's skin can shift depending on circumstances, challenging the societal labels that define people by their appearance.
When I was born, my skin was dark as...
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Monday 10th March 2025 2:19 pm
race identity blackness whiteness color social commentary cultural reflection shifting identity skin perception poetry sonnet
by Martin Peacock
We sour, in the throes of some disaster
of our own demoralised unmaking,
abjectly pining for lord and master,
with crown, throne and sceptre for the taking
if they would but lead us to salvation
and make us strong again. We want the myth,
we crave security for our nation,
the ruthless rule of law they'd hold us with;
we'd sell our freedom cheaply for the chance
to pretend that our wor...
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Monday 10th February 2025 7:16 am
Sonnet
by Rolph David
This sonnet critiques the dangerous alliance between powerful tech moguls and a corrupt political figure, symbolised by the "four musketeers" who bow to Trump’s person, influence and might. It explores their sycophantic behaviour, the manipulation of media, and the betrayal of values for profit and power. The poem hopefully paints a chilling portrait of cowardice dressed as strength and the erosio...
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Sunday 19th January 2025 4:29 pm
sonnet Elon the Felon Tom Crooked Cook Bezo the Bozo Zuckhead T-Rump tech moguls power corruption betrayal media manipulation cowardice political influence social media capitalism freedom greed sycophancy
by Rolph David
Oh, fortune's wheel that spins both high and low,
Thy hand seems fickle, yet thou canst be tamed.
Not through mere chance doth serendipity grow,
But by the deeds where effort is proclaimed.
The lucky soul looks not for fate’s decree,
But steps with courage where the path’s unclear.
They plant the seeds of opportunity,
And tend them well with hope and steady cheer.
Prepa...
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Tuesday 7th January 2025 8:54 am
sonnet luck fate
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