Wordplay

Few can come up with a perfect line
line those words precisely so they scan
scan imagination — hatch a plan
plan a poem — craft it true and fine

Fine of form with deftly-chosen rhyme
rhyme that falls quite naturally in place
place so lightly — give it breathing space
space each vowel to resonate and chime

chime like bells appealing down the years
years that store a half-remembered verse
verse misquoted frequently or worse
worse to fall on deaf dismissive ears

Ears pick up a rhythm running through
through a piece that skilfully repeats
repeats a pattern — measures out its beats
beats the drum and stirs the faithful few