Hello Matt,
Your poem "We Useless Eaters at the Trough" is a powerful and disturbing piece that requires careful reading.
This sonnet employs devastating irony by adopting the perspective of those who vilify welfare recipients and the disadvantaged. The title itself references dehumanizing propaganda historically used against vulnerable populations - "useless eaters" was Nazi terminology for those deemed unworthy of life.
While the poem's strength lies in how it builds this hateful caricature before delivering its shocking final line, the execution could be refined. The middle section (particularly lines 7-10) where you depict "faking desperation" feels somewhat heavy-handed. The satirical intent is clear, but these lines might benefit from more subtle imagery that allows readers to arrive at conclusions themselves rather than being told explicitly about "tricks to look more crippled."
While the Holocaust reference in the final line delivers a powerful punch, it risks overshadowing the poem's broader commentary. Some readers might find this comparison disproportionate or potentially trivializing to Holocaust victims. Perhaps a more gradual build toward this revelation might better prepare the reader for such a weighty comparison.
The sonnet form is mostly well-executed, though the volta could be more clearly articulated - the shift from gorging to sleeping doesn't provide quite enough contrast before the final revelation.
This is challenging, political poetry with important things to say, but could benefit from a slightly lighter touch in places to let its powerful message resonate more fully.
Cheers,
...Alex
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