art and convention

for English speakers, Shakespeare's still the bomb
his sonnets set the mode we emulate
all other rhyme schemes--although they're not wrong--
are more inclined to jar than resonate
for pick-up culture, one can tweet haiku
composed while waiting in a traffic jam
but for romantics, only rhyme will do
to link the ends of ev'ry fifth iamb
from too close up, one can't tell art from junk
nor what might pique an audience's ear
the words we hoped would ring too often clunk
and can't elicit love, or hope, or fear
the theatre pieces paid his rent and dues
but sonnets were his off'rings to the Muse