A man of fine perception, he was blessed,
but turned it to a curse that caused him pain.
He knew the good and failed time and again,
knew weakness in his character, obsessed
on faults and losses, over all repressed
his simple beauty; knowing to refrain
from drink, but ever failing to abstain,
his family was frequently distressed.
His health declined, the heart was first to go;
a broken heart without its share of tears.
Few days remained in life, he seemed to know,
as gently he undid the pain of years.
He had such grace before the end, a glow
surrounds his memory and soothes our fears.
Author notes
requiescat in pace RGN Bates 1924-1995
BG thanks to pattyann4500
In a list
A contest entry
- Calling All Sonneteers by M.A.King.
650 points, ended May 19, 2007, 5 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading. What do you think?
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Oh, Margaret, this is so sad and yet so beautiful. Your poetry takes me places that I seldom get to visit--inside your lovely mind. Thank you so much for gracing this background with this wonderful piece. Hugs, Patricia
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I was looking through my poems for one which would harmonize with your background, and it struck me that an epitaph to a poet and literature professor would be just the one.
Thank you Patricia. 
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A wonderful sonnet of tribute and honesty. You convey the complications of the human condition and how many things that come along (and choices made) can repress talent and joy. This is a well crafted Italian Sonnet with flowing meter and strong message.
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It takes time to understand the meaning of a life. We certainly could not while dealing with his unreliability, and the effect of that lives on in his children. He loved them, but saying it was not enough. Thank you so much for the silver, Mary.
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Very nice. I like the format. I will have to try it.
This was very cleverly put together with meaning inherent in every line. Well done! I give it three bunnies.
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Thank you Allan, I am grateful for your praise and applause. This is an Italian sonnet, with two views of one subject in its two stanzas. JM Kenyon has an informative list on the various sonnet forms if you are interested. http://allpoetry.com/list/show/25619
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ive not read this scheme in a sonnet before so cant give an opinon there , but as for the feel and the topic plus the wording I must say I enjoyed this very much...peace Terry
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a truly masterfully crafted sonnet, carrying a beautiful tribute on its poetic wings ...
the very best of luck in this contest,
marion
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this is quite moving, it took me in and showed me the decline and it was good to know that there was some 'redemption' at the last as ea spoke of.
This is quite a piece, dear You, and I wish you good luck in the contest and all the best!
Thanks for such a hauntingly beautiful sonnet...
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This is touching to me, as I know it grew out of our conversation about Bukowski, of all people. It is deeply reflective and such a kind and tender look at someone who suffered the same demons but found a kind of redemption in the end. Thanks for sharing this with me.
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Is this for anyone in particular? I found this write sad. Good luck in the contest. I liked your use of rhyme here.
Thanks for your comment
Pozo
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Tragic sonnet/story, the fellow sounds like a very demanding poet, and also one susceptible to the measures which could alleviate his knowledge of his failings.
As you know, I'm Sonnet-ignorant but the proximity of those two "hearts" in lines 9 and 10 jump out as a little awkward. I can't make a suggestion because I suck at meter and I know that is imperative here.
It was an intriguing, interesting biography, you've delineated his fall very well I think and I went in search of the enigmatic RGNB but my search turned up nothing.
Anonymous contests are annoying. Aren't hosts just as likely to be persuaded by the comments they read as they are by the acknowledgement of a name? To make a contest fair, all comments should be banned. I can make an author sound amazing (and sound convincing) if I choose, I don't need to say their name to do that...don't need to do that here though, she'll see that for herself.
And no, you don't have to reply to all that contentious tripe
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