No Homilies, Please! (an Italian Sonnet-1975) by LaVerne Lovelady Don’t tell me to accept the things I see! The ills my mother suffered at the hands of sexist attitudes, were not the Plan of Father God, but that of bigotry. Don’t speak to me that lie about my Place, with child, at home, without the pow’r of choice; nor ask me speak, with condescending voice, submissive to this patriarchal race. For there are ways of death I will not choose; from weapons only feckless fools contrive. I fight a fight I do not dare to lose. The fire within burns blessed, and will survive, to purify the fiendishly obtuse; to purge the dross — restoring burnished lives.
LaVerne Lovelady is a 30-year veteran teacher of English and Interpretive Fiction. Her poems, essays, memoirs, and political commentary have been published in various publications through the years, including the WOK Anthology 2017 and CWC Literary Review. Her first novel The Quay Question was recently published. LaVerne is a native Oklahoman, a direct descendant of the Alabama Creek Path Cherokees. She lives in Bakersfield with three adorable cats: Soo-Lin, Siam, and Miss Kitty.