Poetry was never my forte ... and when I tried once (as an elective) I was shot out of the sky by the machine guns of a VERY disagreeable instructor (one of only two of the kind from AA to MA). That being said I can appreciate the tempo, meaning, and backdrop of poetic expression and yours made me think about far too complicated issues churning in my confused, angry, and, at the same time, already surrendered brain. Fine sensitive sweet job.... Congrats!
Surrender. A good sign, AT! I haven't heard you use that word before. First comes surrender, then acceptance, THEN new doors open. Three steps, in that order. Takes a good long while. I am working on the exact same steps. Thanks for reading my poem. I hope it was a bright spot among many in your day today.
Lovely. A sonnet is a challenging form to write, the literary equivalent to riding one of those bikes with the huge front wheel and the tiny rear wheel.
I wrote a sonnet once about my pregnant dog trying to get child support from the cad who did the deed. Probably not high art, but I passed the class.
And maybe when I depart this mortal coil, someone will discover it and canonize me as the Hillbilly Shakespeare.
Me either. That was for a class 16 years ago, and all the dogs therein are long dead, so what’s the point of it all anyway? And I still don’t know what iambic pentameter is, although it doesn’t keep me from walking and breathing at the same time. But it does feel kind of cool to drop “iambic pentameter” in a conversation at Starbucks. “Couplet,” too.
Sharron, this is incredible - thank you for the most wonderful thing that I've read today.
I'm in the middle of an epic catch-up of a brimming Substack inbox thanks to over a week of life getting in the way - an inbox that is full of words written by people whose work I also love to read - so that is SERIOUSLY saying something.
You nailed it, Sharron! I went through a sonnet writing phase back when I was a blogger. They’re a chore to write but the pentameter is so fun to read and recite. Well done!
Thanks for your encouragement, Mitchell. Much appreciated.
Great!!
Your turn Linda. You are good at formulaic poems. Try a sonnet?
Poetry was never my forte ... and when I tried once (as an elective) I was shot out of the sky by the machine guns of a VERY disagreeable instructor (one of only two of the kind from AA to MA). That being said I can appreciate the tempo, meaning, and backdrop of poetic expression and yours made me think about far too complicated issues churning in my confused, angry, and, at the same time, already surrendered brain. Fine sensitive sweet job.... Congrats!
Surrender. A good sign, AT! I haven't heard you use that word before. First comes surrender, then acceptance, THEN new doors open. Three steps, in that order. Takes a good long while. I am working on the exact same steps. Thanks for reading my poem. I hope it was a bright spot among many in your day today.
"New doors open." They better... soon... 'cause I got only drops of fuel in the tank.... Thank you again for being a creator of hope.
Enjoyed this, Sharron! Might you reconsider writing more sonnets?
No... I don't think so. Not really my style. It was sort of a challenge to just learn the form. I am happy you liked it, James Ron.
Lovely. A sonnet is a challenging form to write, the literary equivalent to riding one of those bikes with the huge front wheel and the tiny rear wheel.
I wrote a sonnet once about my pregnant dog trying to get child support from the cad who did the deed. Probably not high art, but I passed the class.
And maybe when I depart this mortal coil, someone will discover it and canonize me as the Hillbilly Shakespeare.
One can dream.
A litigious dog sonnet. Hmmm. Go for it! As you say, one can dream - might as well dream big!
Okay, so now you are the keeper of my flame. I lay upon you the burden of my poetic legacy.
A Bitch’s Sonnet
If you leave today, my love,
Twelve puppies on the way and soon,
The weight of all the heav’ns above
Will rest upon my soul. Muldoon,
I beg you not to run away.
I beg you stay and help with these,
Thy very flesh and blood. Oh stay!
And help, Muldoon, and help me, please.
Then we’d celebrate for weeks, my dear,
In wild joy the hills we’d run
If thou wouldst hold thy offspring near
To finish what thou hath begun.
But if you choose to leave me ‘lone,
I’ll rip your doghood from its throne
Sadly, the formatting didn’t stick. There are two stanzas with a two line couplet at the end. Please pretend like it is all there.
I'm a great pretender.
Okay. You are officially a mad man. Amazing poem... not quite a sonnet I think, but who cares!
Au contraire. It’s a Petrarchan sonnet with a Shalespearean twist in the final couplet
14 lines. Check.
An octet and a sestet, that in this case ends in a two line couplet. Check.
Iambic pentameter, whatever the hell that is. Kind of check.
10 syllables per line. I may have colored outside the lines on that part
Moreover, I paid a lot of money to learn to use Wikipedia.
Hah! What I know about this kind of poetry is - nothing!
Me either. That was for a class 16 years ago, and all the dogs therein are long dead, so what’s the point of it all anyway? And I still don’t know what iambic pentameter is, although it doesn’t keep me from walking and breathing at the same time. But it does feel kind of cool to drop “iambic pentameter” in a conversation at Starbucks. “Couplet,” too.
So cool! I've never attempted a sonnet. But it's on my list. I thought this was fantastic, Sharron. Well done!
Thank you, Meg. I like the way it turned out, but it is not something I want to try again. Too much like work. Happy day to you!
You’re a natural!
Golly! Thanks, Amie, for stopping by to read a 🍁 or two! You have so many choices of writers out there,I am tickled you stopped at my little corner.
"Lift this gloom you drowsy rolling sea."
This is beautiful work Sharron, right down to the couplet at the end.
Thank you, Jim. A little departure.
Sharron, this is incredible - thank you for the most wonderful thing that I've read today.
I'm in the middle of an epic catch-up of a brimming Substack inbox thanks to over a week of life getting in the way - an inbox that is full of words written by people whose work I also love to read - so that is SERIOUSLY saying something.
Hooray! You made my day, Rebecca. And I loved your two Shakespearean cocktails! Too funny!
😁
You nailed it, Sharron! I went through a sonnet writing phase back when I was a blogger. They’re a chore to write but the pentameter is so fun to read and recite. Well done!
Thank you. I will be watching for your next.