RARE EARTH OR WORDS THAT RHYME WITH DICTATOR

A VILLANELLE

I wrote this for Rattle’s Reader’s Respond series, where you write about a news event of the week. It didn’t get accepted, so I am posting it for you to read. It is a traditional Villanelle—Five three line stanzas and a final quatrain. I can’t seem to get the formatting right on Substack, so if you know the trick, please let me know. Thanks for reading.

RARE EARTH OR WORDS THAT RHYME WITH DICTATOR

Trump declares Zelensky a dictator.

Dew covers the grass like diamonds.

Why can’t he admit Putin is the dictator?

What Trump wants is earth that is rare.

In the sun dew looks like diamonds.

Trump declares Zelensky a dictator.

Prometheus was the god of fire.

Promethium is not so easy to mine, and

why can’t he admit Putin is a dictator?

Mother earth, do we really hate her?

A chainsaw gilded with diamonds.

Trump declares Zelensky a dictator.

Lithium batteries essential for our cars.

Titanium and uranium we must mine, and

why can’t he admit Putin is a dictator?

Uranium is used in nuclear reactors.

House members really need a spine, and

Trump declares Zelensky a dictator.

Why can’t he admit Putin is the real dictator?