Wednesday, January 8, 2014

[Prompt] - To Steel From Stone

Prompt: "A series of haikus about the building of the transcontinental railroad." - Christian Armstrong

Added Restrictions: Since haikus can't be written English, I went with a 6/8/4 meter and an ABA rhyme scheme to remain true to the spirit of the original request


To Steel, From Stones

Burnt coal and broken bones
But hey, civilization, right?
To steel, from stones.

Heave, ho, lay down miles
Til we bring two seas together
New tombs, no Nile

But, don't forget to sing.
Drinking songs into Sunday hymns
With every hammered ring

Make a brand new homeland
Out of two old desperate shores
Let tracks bridge sand

Our blood is in the planks
That hold this great bridge together
East, West, give thanks.


(Timed - 12 minutes)

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