Sonnets Here, In-House

Copperfox said:
The ancient Romans used poetry for a variety of teaching purposes, to make lessons easier to remember. If Latin speakers can do it, so can English speakers, as I shall now demonstrate.


A MATHEMATICAL SONNET

In multiplying, there are tricks to try
For memory; for instance, let's run through
The eights: with every time you multiply,
The ending numeral goes down by two.

Twice eight is sixteen; six is two from eight.
Three eights is twenty-four; four's two from six.
Four eights is thirty-two, and I will state
That two from four is two--I like these tricks.

Five eights is forty; zero's two from two.
Six eights is forty-eight, so start again.
The next is fifty-six, and we can do
This process even past the eight-times-ten.

Write all these in a column, and you'll see
The pattern I've described in poetry.


08
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
88
96
etc.​


Yeah, I know that just showing the column is more efficient--but not as much fun.
Click to expand...

Nice one!!!!
It's almost like Multiplication Rock.:D And it teaches you math and poetry at the same time.
 
I hadn't ever heard that trick before but now that I have seen, I cannot understand why I never saw it before. I know that for the nines tables up to ten if you put down the finger that corresponds to the number you are multiplying you will have the right answer. Also there is tha fact that all of the two digit 11's are the number with the sum of the two digits in between (11x23=253)
 
Copperfox said:
The ancient Romans used poetry for a variety of teaching purposes, to make lessons easier to remember. If Latin speakers can do it, so can English speakers, as I shall now demonstrate.


A MATHEMATICAL SONNET

In multiplying, there are tricks to try
For memory; for instance, let's run through
The eights: with every time you multiply,
The ending numeral goes down by two.

Twice eight is sixteen; six is two from eight.
Three eights is twenty-four; four's two from six.
Four eights is thirty-two, and I will state
That two from four is two--I like these tricks.

Five eights is forty; zero's two from two.
Six eights is forty-eight, so start again.
The next is fifty-six, and we can do
This process even past the eight-times-ten.

Write all these in a column, and you'll see
The pattern I've described in poetry.


08
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
88
96
etc.​


Yeah, I know that just showing the column is more efficient--but not as much fun.
Click to expand...

That's cool! I didn't know there was a trick for multiplying eight, I only knew about the nine trick.
 
Let's see how long it takes for this one to be noticed....


I fear I might be looked on as a snob
If I did not write one for MisterBob;
Therefore, the sonnet writer will not rob
Him of due recognition for the job

He lately did of giving us a glob
Of facts on Hanukkah; and I would sob
With guilt if I did not praise MisterBob
For saying that King Peter is no slob.

What other compliments in verse can throb?
He shows good taste by coming to hobnob
With members of the Dancing Lawn's fine mob,
Including this old sailor--slang term "gob."

So even though he never fought Shelob,
Let's all salute our comrade MisterBob.
 
I had a teacher who would probably dock points for the use of Shelob (because she would say it only sort-of rhymed). However, being far from that way myself, I liked it.
 
This relates to the new "Why Do You Follow--" thread

To "Different Name,"
in view of your human doubts​


I'm glad in some ways that my faith did not
Come through my parents; I can say I walked
My own search, coming out of muck and rot,
To find clear truth, not just what someone talked.

Might you have heard of Schliemann, who found Troy?
His work in archaeology also
Found evidence that what has brought me joy
Is not all feelings; there are facts to know.

And since I welcomed Jesus in my mind,
I've seen God's choreography of things.
Where some see chance, I've learned to see a sign,
Yes, many signs, sent by the King of Kings.

I know these were intentionally sent,
For God used things my mind could not invent.


(The part about the researcher Schliemann is there because, at a time when the "Higher Critic" school of Bible-deniers was thriving, some of these picked on the Hittite people described in the Old Testament as being supposedly made up by dishonest legend-spinners. But Schliemann actually found sites of the Hittite civilization, proving that the Bible was right on that subject. The debunkers WANTED the Bible to be false, and so had proceeded on a prior assumption of its falsity. Authors like Josh McDowell go deeper into this historical angle.)
 
A confessional sonnet

When I was six years old or so, I stole
Small toys out of a store not far away.
I saw in this no damage to my soul;
I took them for my sister's use in play.

Conveniently defining for myself
The rights and wrongs concerning larceny,
I felt as generous as Santa's elf,
Until my Mom and Dad caught on to me.

Amazingly, they had such narrow minds
As to make me give back the things I took.
They wouldn't let me choose which deeds were crimes;
They didn't want their son to be a crook.

I learned there ARE some rules for what is done;
I fought the law; thank God that the law won!
 
I like the one for MrBob, but the "gob" line is cheating because there's no bearing on the subject! Did Bob see it?

I like the one for D-N, too, nicely done.
 
I sent word to MrBob that I had written it. And "gob" is not cheating, because I'm a gob, and I am one of those with whom he hobnobs!
 
Though a sonnet is, I think, beyond my power,
A poem at least for such a tower
Of wisdom as Great CopperFox is required
On behalf of those he has inspired.

How does he write so fluently
Of those he reads of silently?
To know by word and not by face
Is skill indeed, and with such grace
He writes, which demonstrates a love
That must be given from above.

He must spend so much of his time
In order to compose a rhyme
That of its subject he can show
Great depth of background he must know.

And so, Dear CopperFox, I say,
Though poem’s harder than essay,
I trust that my attempt’s ok
Appreciation to convey.
 
You asked for it, Peepiceek! You have "offended" me so much, that now I take "revenge" on you! ;) Note that this "punishment" is marked for syllable-rhythm; read it aloud to yourself using the exact syllable stresses, and you'll be practicing the "feel" of the sonnet form.


TO PEEPICEEK

One aspect of all mortal wisdom's found
In asking useful questions; thus, bright youth,
You did well asking how the sight or sound
Of words alone could bring us near the truth

About the nature of an unseen friend.
Well, Jesus did say that what's in the heart
Comes out the mouth! While I do not pretend
Omniscience, yet you're sure to find some part

Of people's character in what they say;
They tell of what they love, or hate, or fear.
I'll use this in a non-dogmatic way,
To speculate, and hope the guess is clear.

At least it pleases those I sonnetize;
And where's the harm if someone calls me wise? :D


Composing sonnets, by the way, is a little bit like writing sermons: you have to judge how much of your available time/space to allot for what statements, and you need something like an introduction-message-summation sequence.
 
Wow! A sonnet response in half a day -
Such marvellous speed that it makes me say:
CopperFox is a remarkable chap,
And I think he deserves a great big clap!
 
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