I cannot write a sonnet; it's too hard To put such barriers around my brain And thus I find my efforts often marred Although I rephrase again and again I cannot write a sonnet though I try Through day and night; through winter, into spring And even though I have no reason why A ten-syllable line my thoughts won't bring But now I wonder just what is so great About this iambic pentameter? And am almost resigned that it's my fate That from the sonnet form I should defer Yet, having spent so long in search of one 'Twould be a shame if it should not be done
Written as an "up yours" to an English teacher who said he bet none of us could write a proper sonnet that worked the way a sonnet should.