Poet’s Note: In this sonnet I’m paying tribute to the patriotic bikers who make their annual pilgrimage to Washington DC to participate in Rolling Thunder’s First Amendment Demonstration Run every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. While the bike run through the capital does get its minute of news coverage, something vital is overlooked; specifically, The Run For The Wall, which is the cross-country migration to D.C., occurring prior to the more famous run.
Through the revving roar of Rolling Thunder,
amplifying along air and asphalt,
silent complacency’s cast asunder,
by a tour-de-force patriots exalt!
On roads and bridges, spectators await
the coast-to-coast annual migration
of Run For The Wall passing through their state
in tightly unified group formation.
Reflecting our country’s crossroads on chrome
the riders of Rolling Thunder emerge,
returning en mass to The Mall and Dome,
gathering strength as their chapters converge!
We, The People hear you and won’t forget
the debt we owe the American vet!
E. V. “Beth” Wyler grew up in Elmont, NY. At 43, she obtained her associate’s degree from Bergen Community College. She and her husband, Richard, reside in New Jersey with their 3 cats and a beta fish. E. V.’s poetry has been featured in: Cat Fancy, The Eclectic Muse, Feelings of the Heart, Nuthouse Magazine, The Pink Chameleon, The Poet’s Haven, The Rotary Dial, The Society of Classical Poets, The Storyteller, on the website of USA Patriotism!, Vox Poetica, and WestWard Quarterly.
Author’s Note: Good morning! Thirty one years ago, a patriotic tradition was born when 2 men, Artie Muller and Ray Manzo, decided to advocate for fellow veterans by riding their motorcycles through Washington D.C. over Memorial Day weekend. This Sunday, May 27, 2018, as thousands of Rolling Thunder bikers cross Arlington Memorial Bridge and ride up Constitution Avenue, most major media outlets will cover the Ride For Freedom. Receiving less media attention, however, are the preceding journeys, where individual chapters of Rolling Thunder join 1 of 3 Run For The Wall’s routes to the capital. During this 10-day cross-country migration, Run For The Wall bikers ride 400 miles per day, through sun, rain, and sleet; through mountains and deserts, contending with temperatures ranging from 30 to 115 degrees; but, most importantly, they ride past the American people cheering them on as they progress from heartland to beltway. Before Rolling Thunder’s Ride For Freedom captures the attention of lawmakers, Run For The Wall awakens the electorate. Thank you for reading The Revving Roar of Rolling Thunder. E. V.
This sonnet is excellent in that it calls attention to an event which many people do not know about. The sonnet conveys to the reader the feelings which are in the hearts of those who participate in this important demonstration. Their efforts and time are for a very significant cause, which we in America have neglected for far too long. I want to compliment E. V. Wyler for putting her talent into such a meaningful project.
Thank you, Ken. Your words were very kind.
E. V.
William Topaz McGonagall, the great 19th century Scottish bard, would have deeply admired this. I can imagine him with goggles on, riding his Harley towards our great Capitol, Washington, D.C., and towards our commander in chief, the Donald. I see him greeted by the Trumpster himself, wild Bill handing him an oaken plaque with this poem writ in gold.
Ought “capital” be spelled as “capitol”? Enjoyed.
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. Also, you are correct; I did misspell the word “capitol”. Thank you for the editorial assistance.
Note from the editor: If you want to switch the spelling, E.V., please review below and confirm. I think it is okay as is, but I defer to you:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital
capital and capitol: Which One to Use Where
What a pair these are: they sound identical and look nearly identical and both have meanings that relate to government. Mastering their use, however, is simple.
The key is this: capitol, the one with an “o,” is very limited in use. It appears in the term Capitol Hill, and is used to refer to one very particular and famous building, to some other similar buildings, and, occasionally, to a group of buildings that includes those similar buildings. For all other meanings, the word you want is capital.
This means that in a state’s capital city is a building or group of buildings properly referred to with the word capitol, with an “o.” In this use capitol is synonymous with statehouse: both refer to the building or group of buildings where a state legislature meets. The phrase capital city utilizes capital because it refers to a city, not to a building or group of buildings.
Capitol with a capital “C” refers to the particular building in Washington, D.C. where the U.S. Congress meets. It often appears before other nouns in phrases like the Capitol building and Capitol police, and is very frequently used in the term Capitol Hill, which refers both to the legislative branch of the United States government as well as to the location of the Capitol building. The Capitol, like many state capitol buildings, has a rounded dome that is somewhat reminiscent of the top of an “o,” which may help some remember the “o” spelling. Note that the word capital as used to describe an uppercase letter, like in the phrase capital “C”, utilizes capital.
The word capital has three distinct homographs, two for noun uses and one for adjective uses. Readers should consult those entries for the various meanings of capital, but can be assured that they all end in al, rather than ol.
Oh, my! I learned something new this morning. Thank you for this tutorial. Not only is that very interesting to know, but I’m sure a lot of people (not only writers) would benefit from this explanation. Upon further reflection, I think I’ll stay with the original word (capital). However, I’m still pleased Leo pointed this out because like “The Society” has said, either option could work, and now I was able to make an informed and deliberate choice. Thank you, Leo and Evan. I’ll admit to sometimes becoming so absorbed with my feelings and passions that I become a little careless with other facets of good writing, such as spelling, grammar and punctuation. Hopefully, I speak not only for myself but other writers, too, when I say that editors (like Evan) have challenging jobs keeping their writers on point, and (unfortunately) they are frequently under-appreciated.
The Revving Roar of Rolling Thunder is a great poem for all and especially veterans who have served this country and devoted their lives for freedom. Well said and the writer did a great job detailing this wonderful event for such a great purpose. I feel as though I am traveling down the road with the group with pride and honor. How thoughtful of the writer to put together such a touching poem for such a deserving group. I truly praise her work and look forward to reading more of E. V. “Beth” Wyler’s poems. She is truly a gifted talent and I love her work.
Thank you, Jerry, for picking up on the feeling of being present (in the sonnet); it was my intent to make the reader feel the patriotic pride that wells inside the hearts of those witnessing this event. Also, thank you for praising my work. Your comment is very kind. Best, E. V.