Straight Talk Volta

"Straight Talk Volta" is a sonnet written by Lawrence Eberhart on 17 October 2012.

Original text
Didactic poems can be used to teach. An autologic poem may espouse itself, defining what its form allows. And either type can be set forth to preach. They usually show the wheres and hows. A sonnets heart, (the volta or the turn) is not a trick that manual writers learn. So what’s a poet faced with to arouse?

Well, stop and tell the whys that you discern once you’ve instructed well. A twist is made, the sonnet sighs, stands tall, and you’ve not strayed from form. You may if need ‘ere you adjourn return to central theme, a point delayed, for emphasis; and beautifully displayed.