Loving With A Chronic Illness (Spenserian Sonnet) by lordoftherings at All poetry

by Gregg Rowe
~~~~~

I’m wishing to walk hand in hand with love
As aging sneaks up -- from back she befriends
The wrinkled road maps it starts from above
My eyes have crows feet as I see my end

I plead my angels -- love is what needs sent
I wish to show someone -- another side
Displaying doves on cards – money well spent
As I remain one -- twenty years fly by

A partner I am coupled – not a guy
Through twenty years we have lived common-law
I love it dearly because I am alive
My friends and family have stood in awe

Though raped one night on a romantic date
A chronic illness has become my mate.

~~~~~

Author notes

Written August 21st, 2004

In a list

A contest entry

Your heart i desire by Haunted-Memory. 300 points, ended December 23, 2005, 18 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

What did you think

Comments

1 - 21 of 21

By me, right now

Adding your comment:
Haunted-Memory
December 23, 2005
Edit | Reply

an excellent write good luck in my contest Brian
peluche
February 27, 2005
Edit | Reply

Ok, After I commented on your other poem, I thought I needed one with a little more cheer. I thought this work was great. I love the personification. I too live with a chronic illness. I hope yours is not as dibilitating as mine. I can see by this that you are a very talented writer. This is a well thought out and expressed poem. Btw, is that pic on your author page you? It is very sexy. But alas, you are gay. That is the way with all the good guys, isn't it? I hope you don't take offense by my saying that, but it's true. Keep up the excellent work!
SuZyCuE
January 22, 2005
Edit | Reply

Wow this is great, You have a talent for writing poetry, probably because the words come strait from your heart and you can see that through your words. I Love sonnets, Im trying to write one of my own but Im getting a bit hung up on tha pesky pentameter lol, you did a incredible job on this, you are truly an inspiration to us all
Niki1227
January 13, 2005
Edit | Reply

this was so sad yet beutifull you did a wonderful job niki
Frost Bit Rose
December 23, 2004
Edit | Reply

one crimson tear can only explain. Love can heal your torn heart. I sind Love on the wings of a dove. Keep it close.
Libellulidae
December 22, 2004
Edit | Reply

Sonnets are such wonderful expressions. This one fulfills all the poetic qualities and also wrenches the heart with emotion.. a fantastic piece.. smooth to read and painfully sincere. Thank you so much for sharing. Much love to you. Robin
spirited
December 20, 2004
Edit | Reply

very nice and well written gregg . you never cease to amaze me how your broad scope can give words new forms and different bodies to hold new meanings . i just write straight forward words on paper . what i call poetry. but you write sonnets poems songs... dam . it doesnt matter to me what society thinks of you or your situation . you are definetly one in a million . stay strong and keep your head up....

john..
Sweet Briar
December 18, 2004
Edit | Reply

Ok this poem is such a beautiful write... It made me think of my uncle.. He was a loving person had a heart of gold and all he ever wanted was people to accept him for him... Everyone looked down on him bc he was living with Aids and his partner of 14 years was the one that gave it to him... Everyone treated him like a outcast and every night he would wish that people would let him live a happy life.... But now I know he is in a happy place no more tears and sorrow to bring him down everlasting happiness... Sorry for rambling but this poem just spoke to me

Jenn
lovehateandtears
December 16, 2004
Edit | Reply

Some how your writes always capture this emotion that I cannot seem to comprehend. I am lost at words. These writings, all of yours, leave me breathless. And better yet, they are true, real feelings and at times it makes me so sad. I will not pitty you or give you sympothy for all of the terrible things you have been through. No, I wont. But I WILL cherish you and look up to you. When things are hard for me I literally crawl into a corner and cry myself to sleep or end up cutting. But you are strong. One of the strongest people I have ever known. I am glad to have known you. You & your writes make me feel thankful for what I have.
Thank you for sharing this write with me and everyone else on AP. You are one of the few who really make this site feel like home for me

*Kayla Dawn*
stailing
December 16, 2004
Edit | Reply

Wow, I am at a loss of words (which for me is something new for I always have something to say). I've worked with people with many different chronic illnesses and many dying by just plain old age. The latter is what this poem reminded me of. It's just a beautiful piece, I may be well off in left field somewhere but the message I'm taking away from this is that regardless of your illness, regardless of your fate, everyone needs and deserves to be loved.
Wonderful Job.
~stail~
misselaineous
August 24, 2004
Edit | Reply

the last two lines are very strong... left me reeling a tad.
i find reading iambic pentameter hard~ i just read and say to heck with the stresses ~ too much of a strain on my defuddled brain ~ you have captured a great poem
lordoftherings
August 22, 2004
Edit | Reply

Reenie: Not at all: the reference to mate is a personification of my illness and now that I have accepted that part of my life, I wish to find that love that is reserved for me in a personal since. My next poem that I am presently writing asks the forces of why I am gay, called My Confession, to be put later up today (Sunday) but I would never curse my sexuality though I might question it...isn't it funny how heterosexuals never get to question their sexuality. ! Gregg
Edited on Aug 22, 12:04 because ''.
cherche -d -ame
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

Gregg, this poem exceeded all expectations as far as the writing part goes. But please forgive me for sounding abit confused or befuddled by the meaning of it..............I am interpreting as you cursing your own gayness and wishing for something else. Please correct me and explain if I am way off base and abit dense as it might seem I am sure,
Reenie
Dean
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

I have no idea that this poetry form, at least this type of sonnet, existed, but you have impressed me imensely. The poem was mature and extremely well written. I could not see a flaw anywhere. Well Done Indeed.
hugh wyles
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

Dear Gregg,
You are really getting on top of the 'dreaded' Iambic Pentameter in this one.
Five feet in every line and only a very occasional stress on a wrong syllable. You are getting there my friend as I knew damn well you would!!
That is my technical comment and is in no way a criticism of your thoughts, words or message which are superlative. I must admit that I find some of the rhyming a bit on the rugged side.
And to "put my money where my mouth is", I applaud this poem inspite of its few metrical and rhyming flaws. Keep trying.
Best wishes and regards, Hugh.
PS: I am not trying to patronise but to help.
Edited on Aug 21, 6:18 because ''.
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

life eh gregg, it's certainly a crazy mixed up one. twenty years gone in a blink. love and screams echoing in the mind. it is all good, smiles wracke em up. keep seeing these sonnets lol some good poems.
Princess Muse
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

This is but an amazing piece of art and realization of what life can be like in an instant of time. I don't feel that there was anything wrong with the way it was presented at all. Chronic Illnesses of many kinds hinder our lives in many ways. HIV/AIDS is only but one. I worked for years with AIDS/HIV patients, your words would have brought comfort to many of them.
Victoria Lin
April Renee
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

well..i really dont know what to say...to me, the words didnt match with the tone...or the 'voice'..but..im an outsider looking in...not tainted..but merely ignorant, in more ways than one...nice job on writing this...about all i can say...

~*~blu~*~
Come L-oro
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

this is excellent but the rhyming seems a bit forced here and there and some of the back to front sentences are a bit to complex to me, other than that i like it anyway because i can still understand what u are trying to say.keep it up with the good stuff.....b3l
inyourbloodstream
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

Whoa... That's an awesome write... Touching... Sad... I like how it flows... Great write...
SweetSorrow1989
August 21, 2004
Edit | Reply

WoW! great piece... i really liked it... i really like the picture too... i think the flow of this piece was very good... i really liked it... great job putting this piece together! *Gloating right belong to me for commenting first!**Nanny nanny boo boo* Sorry had to do that!