Many times life has pulled the rug or slapped me down.
I falter, then rise up to face the tasks presenting.
Sometimes I have such pain and grief that, unrelenting,
Have worn away my stamina and strength. What crown
About my head will show the battles I have drown,
Begin to prove the will my acts are representing?
Enough to live with my integrity. Resenting
All that befalls will only etch a forehead frown.
Relish what is left, Child! You yet have breath to breathe.
Write out your pain and joy, your one humanity.
On pages digitally, show us you’re still brave!
Make hay while sun is shining; though when you must, grieve.
Another day is dawning, you’ve hearts yet to seed.
New journeys will begin in your last resting cave.
Author notes
Italian Sonnet using iambic hexameter and volta in Line 9. Intentional variations to meter in Lines 1, 8, 9, 11-14 (I know that’s a lot). Feminine endings on lines 2, 3, 6, 7.
2009 July 18
In a list
- AWARDS: Gold • next in list
- FORM: Acrostic • next in list
- Living Well and The Right to Die: Poems • next in list
- FORM: Sonnet, Italian • next in list
- CATEGORY: Death and End of Life • next in list
- People with Disabilities group list • next in list
- Graduate Seminar on the Sonnet group list • next in list
A contest entry
- What's in a name? by Kari.
650 points, ended July 25, 3 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading. Critical commentary welcome.
Comments
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This is a lovely Acrostic you have written and I agree that most I have read sound like a list. I have only done one so will have to go back to re read it and see how it sounds to me now time has gone by...mine is not a sonnet though...
"Relish what is left, Child! You yet have breath to breathe." ...This is my favorite line since it is how I feel about life...Just the fact I am her to enjoy it is enough to make me relish it..no time to feel sorry, too many things to do and places to go and people to meet.
Thank you for the poem and the subtle lesson on how to write an acrostic sonnet. Darlene
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stunning!
oh MIsha, this write is stunning. It flows so effortlessly and gracefully with such fullness of expression and beauty. Nothing ever seemed forced or out of place. i also wonder what crown I wear for all my triumphs and efforts. Often I feel it is only my failures and what I haven't done that others so often see. *sigh*
i found this poem of yours to be inspirational and encouraging. You're right, we still have our breath and as long as we are breathing we can still do all that you say. Make hay? Yay! Congrats on the gold. Very deserving of it!
karen
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Ahhh, thank you very much, Karen.
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GOLD for sure
Gosh! This must have been VERY hard to do (to write).
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Thanks, Ellis. I did take awhile, because I wanted the acrostic to sound like a poem, not just a list of attributes.
Thanks for the read and the applause.
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fabulous acrostic in a sonnet form!
loved it
what a beautiful and gracious
woman you are!
way to write!
ears/Seattle
Congratulations of the well-deserved Gold!
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Thank you kindly.
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Interesting
Could you tell me why you say this sonnet is in iambic tetrameter (four main stresses), when most sonnets are in iambic pentameter (five main stresses)? I would have said your lines are alexandrines. I find this a novelty, and a most welcome one. Alternatively I was going to think in terms of G. M. Hopkins' freedom of line, but I couldn't be sure of recognising sprung rhythm. -
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Thanks for catching that. It is iambic hexameter, not tetrameter! Is that was alexandrine is? (I'm still learning). I'm also not sure what "sprung rhythm" is.
Thanks for the read and the feedback.
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Here's the line I like the best:
"Another day is dawning, you’ve hearts yet to seed."
That's the key to life I think, no matter what comes, divert to others' needs and yours will seem to diminish - not to minimize your struggle, but I think you know what I mean.
Paul
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Yes, I do know what you mean, Paul. That's a big part of what I do/why I'm here on AP.
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Wow what an amazing write and a Acrostic too! A very heartfelt and full of vivid emotion write. I so enjoyed reading this morning. Good luck in the contest, hugs Theresa
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Thank you very much, Theresa. I wasn't sure where exactly I was headed with this write when I began it. I very much like where it ended up. Thanks for the read, encouraging comments, and applause.
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Lovely Misha.
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Thanks, bro.
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