In 1993 I was a junior in high school, studying The Canterbury Tales. We were given an assignment to write a Chaucerian sonnet from the point of view of an elevator operator whose elevator gets stuck between floors while a group of high school students is on a field trip. I chose to write about a debate student, and I had a specific senior in mind. I chose to spell debater with an -or because I felt that made it seem more a part of his identity.
Along one wall, a proud Debator sat
With all his gear. His head, for lack of hat,
Appeared the only part of him to bear
The fashions of modernity. His hair
Was slicked to back with gel or mousse he wore
To match the style of sixty years before.
His red suspenders likewise made him look
A nineteen-thirties businessman or crook.
His hands had tugged his tie loose in their quest
To pass the time while forcibly my guest.
He fidgeted as if in quite a hurry
To get somewhere and seemed inclined to worry
About two heavy boxes made of plastic
Bound to a little dolly with elastic.
These boxes bore a portion of his fate
In cross-examination-style debate.
He really only used a small percentage
Of paper in the box. The rest was vintage
Material from when he'd thought the sound
Of truth would, if he spoke it, win a round.
This text that had been written to enlighten
Today served only visually to frighten
Opponents and the uninitiated
Who only once or twice had e'er debated.
Why truth, when simpler 'tis to form illusion?
His dress showed this, for, to avoid confusion,
He wore his daunting costume all the time.
He rattled through a speech in pantomime
While waiting. Yea, the contents of his mind
Made way for memorizing of this kind.
He'd found it necessary to relax
His grip on other subjects that could tax
His time and effort, which were focused towards
The acquisition of debate awards.
He'd faith that such a narrow spread of knowledge
Could somehow gain admission to a college
Whose reputation and prestige attract
Companions in agreement on this fact:
Society is based on lies and hate
And run by cynics who enjoy debate.
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