Promises, Promises
You Wanted a Sonnet?
As I was sitting in my chair alone--
not odd or even slightly strange to do
considering the time of day outgrown--
vainly casting weeds of thought to you
without a hope of classic verse my own.
I'm left bereft to flounder in my stew.
There is no drawing blood out of a stone
Ex-sanguinated artifact, or two.
Let's wait for morning when the mess is done
and nothing stands astride preventing verse.
Perhaps my muse with whirling pirouettes
and I, though gladly waking with the sun,
together, scintillating songs rehearse
to find the greatest sonnet you can get!
Author notes
Petrarchan, with volta in last verse.
"Ex-sanguinated" (neologism for bloodless) showing how totally impossible it was, having recently written few.
Iambic pentameters.
Thank you for the kick-start!
Terry
A contest entry
- A Royal Sonnet Contest. ONLY FOR MEMBERS of HUGH WYLES’ FAVOURITES’ GROUP. by hugh wyles.
850 points, ended March 31, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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neat poem
hey, i just picked someone at random, to ask them to read my poems, and i am impressed by yours. grammar teacher? jeeezzzzzzzz...well, i was a star in a small town english/creative writing class once upon a time, so what the heck! if you wouldn't mind, please give my verse a read, and tell me what you think. how the heck do you get people to not only read, but review yer poems, anyway, any pointers? i also have poems under (unfortunately), my given name, on poetbay.com, which is a free site you might even be interested in. thanx for your consideration, matt fisher
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Hey totally loved it great its awesome! Visit my page I wanna wat you thk of my poems
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A poem about a poem, very unique. I really liked. I also noted in the below comment that it had been a while since you had attempted iambic pentameters and you should know that you did a great job. Keep it up.
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This poem was great.hey check out my poems and page!
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This Sonnet has fooled itself
Too bad the difficulty expressed by this sonnet does not apply to it! It has made a liar out of itself.
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Ellis, if you knew how LONG it had been since I had written iambic pentameters, you'd have understood that it had expressed the truth! The perceived truth as felt by the writer, in any case! I mean it was for a contest.
I'm glad it turned our rather better than expected.
Thank you for reminding me
Terry
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Great use of language to guide the reader through.
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I like this poem
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Thank you. I'm glad.
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wonderful
such a terrific write. so very well expressed. thank you for sharing
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Sharing the struggle
eases the load.
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Glad I dropped in to read for the first time a read of one of your poems...A delightful write, of flow, form, and imagery...with a tinge of humor....I will be back...(A fellow Canadian)..
penning! 
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Hey! Canadians unite!
Ages, at last I write
Thank you
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This is a very fine write, nicely crafted, steady pleasing rhythm
bravo thanks for sharing
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And thank YOU for reading!
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I enjoyed this one too Terry! What more can I say. You are a good poet!
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My reply to you WANDERED
It sits below, visiting AllexisReed! Mind of its own, it has, aided and abetted by AP Software.
As for my poems I think I shall faint if I ever see even a silver here!
Perhaps I should try harder? I see so many with hundreds of gold trophies, and sit silently for a while. Then I sigh and consider why I really am here--to teach grammar.
How exciting!
Your kind words help. Thank you.
Terry -
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Anytime Terry. You are the best!
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I really like this. The expression's are wonderful.
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Thank you
There had been such a long time since I had even tried to write a poem, let alone a sonnet, I had to grind the rust out before it could even start. The second verse went more quickly. -
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well the dust was transformed into writing magic when you did it so congrats.
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This is beautiful. I will listen to your suggestions from now on!
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To Patpowersnoshoepoet (It wandered to AllexisReed)
Hey, I'm glad! Hello to you both!
There are two odd phenomena involved in this sonnet: technically knowing what a sonnet IS, number of lines, all that, is no guarantee that what is written can claim the name. It is the content that matters--in this type, different point of view, the second in contrast or as a result of the first.
This described the painful writing process.
For the other, readers are kind! Thank you.
(Another AP problem:
Sometimes, a reply does not stay where it was put!)
Terry
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Dear Terry, Well, you stood up to the test to write a Sonnet for Hugh's contest. Beautifully written and I've learned another word (sanguinated) Good luck in the contest.
Regards Joan
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There is a stone within a cemetery
which weeps wet blood with regularity.
The grave is of a housemaid whose sad loss
of life was caused by her possessive boss.
'Tis said he stabbed her with a carving knife
in jealous rage and took away her life
because she gave her favours to the boy
whom her boss as a chauffeur did employ.
Her gravestone stands surrounded by rank weeds
and, I can swear, it actually bleeds! -
Dear Dee-Crep-it,
Perhaps I should have issued timely warning
to those who try to write dee-dum-dee-dum.
It’s best to start off early in the morning
with adequate strong coffee in your tum.
Be careful not to rouse your Muse too early!
Cajoling her with gentle words, entreat her
sweet guidance, else, if she is gruff and surly,
you’ll never get a smooth iambic meter.
He who ignores the promptings of his muse
will certainly with writer’s block be smitten.
‘Tis fruitless to try swearing or abuse.
repeatedly destroying what you’ve written.
Count with your fingers, starting with your thumb:
Dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum.
Of course, Terry, you need no such warning as evinced by this fine, humorous Italian style sonnet. Thankyou for responding to this contest and gracing it with such a splendid entry.
Your reverting to your beloved old ID was evidently not picked up by this multi-flawed AP system, so I have hastened to 'reinstate' you in my Favourites' listing (you were never absent in my heart!)
Applause for your sonnet, thanks, love and hugs XXX Hugh.
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Yes, dee-DUM indeed
The line:
"vainly casting weeds of thought to you" started with a trochee...
that is why there are weeds...no?
You caught it but not why.
Not being mind-readers...that's OK. I have that problem too.
I confess I wondered where the weeds had come from. --Courtesy of my Muse, and now can see the sense in it, as ever more alert than I! Thank you for bringing it to attention. It would have gone right over my head.
Terry
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Exsanguination is a word I know,
the proximate cause of many a violent end.
You prove that stones whose blood has ceased to flow
may still have finer eloquence to spend.
My dictionary does not recognize exsanguinated, but the meaning is clear anyway. This is the Shakespeare argument: the word was needed.
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Another wanderer ( copies collecting.)
--and for telling me why you liked it, much appreciation!
This same unaltered reply has been shifted by software up and down the list, each time I tried to reply. Fortunately it belongs here too, so I'll leave it, and in FORUMS, will complain bitterly!
What does that have to do with yours?
That's the problem isn't it? To some extent it fits all.
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You inspire me to try my hand at this, Terry I've probably written a Sonnet or two without realizing I'd done it. My knowledge of all the forms is horribly at fault.
I like this amusing yet serious piece and I wish you good luck in the contest
Dee
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Thank you Dee.
Have fun!
Fourteen lines. Double quatrains followed by the "volta"--if I remember, with an opposing view.
Good luck on yours.
(I've gone back to my older name; it fits better.)
Terry
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