I sit and stitch and patch this threadbare coat
Repair the tears that years of wear have left
Rematch with care the threads of warp and weft
Try to retie the broken seams. I note
The marks of carelessness in times remote
I’m not so skilled to raze their trace, not deft
Enough to heal the holes and gaps the theft
Of age has taken. All of them denote
Some failure in the past, the thoughtless, crass
Mistakes of thankless youth, both with intent
And negligent but now too late to mend
Try as one may, there is no chance to pass
That way again and miss each rift and rent
So this, I must make last me to the end
Author notes
Petrarchan sonnet
Written October 29th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Fixed Poetry by Whispered Devotions.
500 points, ended November 4, 2005, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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I still think that this is one of the very best things you have ever written. I need it tatooed on my forehead. (Not pretty, I will grant you!) x debs
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Strange, I was driving down to Birmingham yesterday and thought of this particular poem. coincidence or what?
thanks for the comment
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Spooky coincidence! As you can see, I am re-reading some of my bookmarks this morning. Bewildered by life and my own craziness! Hope you are well and happy hun... x D
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Just one more section to go on the tractor! Should be complete by the weekend. Whee Ha!
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I read this from time to time when I need to make what I have last me to the end. Thank you Vic. Pass the tissues...!
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Just revisiting some bookmarks. Still love this so much. And still love the accepting patience of your last line.
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Thought of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colours when I started reading this poem of yours. The holes are there, can be covered, but are still there underneath. Nice poem you have shared with us.
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Very well written
very deep indeed..I would not like to make a critical review as my poems are limited to dittys and I feel this is way to deep and soleful for me to do it justice.
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great
I really liked this too. I could imagin you saying the words and that always helps. Lovely -
great
I really liked this too. I could imajine you saying the words and that always helps. Lovely -
Thanks for the notes. I wll try tinkering and see if I can rework th middle. The trouble is the way something this complex seems to write itself in places. My own biggest problem was with the last line. Didn't match up as well as I would have liked to to 'They also serve who only stand and wait'
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I like the overall feel, as well as your internal rhyme (that worked quite nicely). The main image works quite well too. However, I would say that it gets a bit too direct around line 7. Seems as though it would work better around there with a gloss of subtext. A nice start though...as well as a good style choice. I like them Petrarchan sonnets. If you have any specific comments you need, you know my number.
Cheers,
Yossarian -
Another excellent write, the form and the flow of the poem was excellent. True we can not change the past, but we can relive it, go back in our minds. Well done...Jeff
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awesome write! Love this form and you made reading this so very enjoyable....awesome job and g/l in the contest.....LYNDA
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I liked this very much. I was certain at first but then I caught on to the flow of it and it was great. Wonderful job on showing me a new poetry form. Good luck.
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a careful embroidery
So glad you brought this over from ShareP. I love it - keep looking at it again. As I said, love the philosophical and accepting quality that you cannot change past mistakes - no matter how you wish. Accept and love yourself. Hard but necessary. x debs -
This is excellent. It reminded me of so many of my past relationships that needed mending. I really enjoyed this piece of writing and it's quite evident to me that you're one of the more talented poets here on AP. I look forward to reading much more of your work in the future. Thank you for sharing this piece and allowing me into your world. God bless you and take care!
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I like it. Took me a moment to get the hang of the rhyme pattern (thought for some strange reason it was ABBAABBA through the whole thing until I caught on), and I thought it was nice. (Then again, I also prefer slice-of-life stuff anyway...) Good luck in the contest!
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