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The Book of Life

Book-01-june.gif book image by ArdenEaton

Open the pages, though the story’s end
Lies shrouded in a future closed to me,
In step with Time, to whose will all must bend,
Voyage which spirals to eternity.
In equity all judgements try to rend,
Equal give to foe, receive from friend.
R emember when you help that amity
Always returns your own needs to attend -
Love given, love will echo firm and free.
Express your true opinions, and defend
‘X’ - even if unknown, from falsehood.  Send
In harmony all signals, try to be
Steady, open-minded, just. To each
Life Will great happiness forever reach.

Author notes

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Comments


  • BluesMan gold member
    February 26
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    I only started reading and writing sonnets recently and I am not qualified to give an educated comment. I do agree with Terry thi is an excelent sonnet Thank you for entering my contest


  • Terry-too silver member
    February 25

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    This prodigious poem involves us

    in discussing eternal verities, interactions and rewards. Undeniably valuable, this advice if heeded by ALL, persons and nations, we would have blessings we cannot even imagine where so often opposites are true.

    Several other complexities emerged in this creatively crafted sonnet. Not a standard Petrarchan sonnet then, although it does have a turning point, the volta in the last six lines.

    One, although it has the usual number of lines and the couplet at the end, the rhyme has only two: A and B, thee and me? Only two are there until the dénouement, presumably a happy ending CC! The rhyme scheme is interesting in other ways too. It mirrors.

    Rhymes ABAB, interactions in AABA, and reversed, BABA, reveal hidden meaning. It is as if the standard sonnet ABAB meets a mirror of contemplation, which returns BABA. The intention in this poem is unknown, but the effect echoes the advice. What you do is done to you, in its kindness and truth. Result, a sense of unity in the final couplet, CC!

    Two, I noticed another variation from a standard sonnet.
    The sampling of lines gave me pentameters as it should. Not that.
    In the first eight lines the initial syllables alternated iamb-trochée, iamb-trochée,
    each consistent through the line. The next four lines began with iambs as if agreement had been reached—or peace, and the final couplet was a pair of trochées--is there a story there too? Powerfully clever if that was planned. If not planned, you have a prodigious Muse working overtime!

    Three. Punctuation: We all see ends of lines with no punctuation even where it would be needed, especially by beginning writers. Look and no such lines are found in this poem.

    Compare this to the sonnet so it makes sense.
    The first line continues to say "story's end lies shrouded in a future. . . "
    Line 7 keeps right on going "amity always returns your own needs. . . "
    Line 10, 11, 12, 13 "--and defend 'X'- even if unknown . . .
    Send in harmony all signals, try to be steady
    To each life will great happiness forever reach.

    Each of those is an example of a poetic device known as Enjambment, (also seen as Enjambement): a masterful use, here. If read aloud correctly without pausing at ends, it is the greatest way to hide end-rhyme (especially for those who say they "hate end rhyme.")

    Enjambment was a device freely used by Shakespeare, (1564 to 1616) often more than two per sonnet but I found one with four.

    Jonathan ROBIN, this is one excellent poem!

    Finalist List, of course!


  • Lily of the Valley
    February 6

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    Remember when you help that amity
    Always returns your own needs to attend –

    … Wise words throughout for those you love and indeed, for all but the lines above stand especially prominent. Many pages have been opened with many more to go and if this advice is followed the story will be fulfilling and the outcome happy. The book of life should be bound with gold