Post 72: Sonnets

Today, I am going to talk about sonnets. Sonnets are wonderful. A sonnet is a type of poetic form, originating in Italy. There are multiple varieties of sonnets, the three most common are Spenserian, Petrarchan (Italian), and Shakespearean (English).

The Spenserian Sonnet: a b a b - b c b c - c d c d - e e

The Petrarchan Sonnet: a b b a  - a b b a (c d c d c d) or (c d d c d c) or (c d e c d e) or (c d e c e d)

The Shakespearean Sonnet: a b a b - c d c d - e f e f - gg

I have found the Shakespearean to be my favourite, though I have tried them all. It is the most flexible, I feel. It also is made easier because there is more variation of rhymes. Having to rhyme two line endings is simpler than following further through the sonnet with four lines. I also like the alternating line endings better than the ABBA of the Petrarchan.

I decided to talk about this today, because we wrote a sonnet by committee in my English class. It was hard to write as a group and, honestly, the last two lines of it drive me a little nuts.

Here it is...

How could I compare your Love;

Through Sparta to Thermopylae?

From the grace of God above

to shatter thy fearful monopoly?

Your beauty transcends what is only seen

Your spirit matches the purest of gold

The live we have with virtue will stay clean

And it will stay strong even when you're old

And you, my love, I doth obey

As the holy father hath ordained

To rise and do thy bidding day by day,

Another property you have gained

Hundred years a slave

To a never ending rage

So, you can kind of seem why it is driving me nuts, I assume. The rhyme is a little off, but mostly what it is, is that it doesn't fit. I mean, it is light and lovey before and then it is rage and slavery.

Anyway, doesn't matter that much. Which ever group wins best sonnet gets out of the quiz. But it is a five point quiz. And my guess is that she won't tell us until the day of the quiz who won. Also, it is just off the reading. So, it isn't like I am going to not do the reading or studying, it just alleviates a bit of pressure. 

Now, I can't have a post about sonnets without talking about my sonnets. Of which, I now have twenty and an additional three in progress. One thing that I have noticed while writing these is how rare it seems to find other, more modern sonnets. It seems like it is a form that has been for the most part retired. Free verse seems to be the most dominant form of poetry around these days. Especially on poetry.com, a website that allows you to post your poetry and get reviews. And it is guaranteed to get reviews. Because in order for some to post a poem, they have to review two.  

The first two sonnets I posted on the site got mixed reviews. Mostly good, but one poet commented that it wasn't a poem. When I explained to him it was sonnet, which is a type of poetic form, he never replied. But, posted on a later sonnet saying the same thing. 

Which, annoyed me to know end. 

But, anyway, most of what I come across is free verse. Like 95% of it is free verse. And because of that it seems like free verse gets more stars and better reviews, even with less time and quality. 

Here are two poems I posted, one free verse and one sonnet. 

You Can Be Anything

I held on to what I believed 
Both hands gripping on to the dream 
As if sheer human will were enough to make it happen 
As if just wanting it was enough 
As if just working for it was enough 
As if pouring every essence of my being into it was enough 
But it wasn't, it isn't 
Little kids get told they can be anything they want 
As long as they try hard enough, they will get it 
That is what I was told, what I believed 
But it was all a lie, a sugar coating of reality 
Because no one has the guts to admit, 
Sometimes it doesn't matter 
Sometimes you can work until you bleed 
Sometimes you can give until you have nothing left 
And it still won't be enough to make it 
Because it isn't just about you give in this life 
It is about what you are given coming into it 
You cannot be a singer, if you cannot sing 
No matter how hard you try 
You cannot be a lawyer, if you cannot afford school 
Because a degree is something you have to buy 
So let us add an asterisk or a note to the end of that saying 
"You can be anything" 
As long as you have the money and means 
The dedication and talent, and luck on your side  
With all these things, you might just have a shot at your dreams  

Live Your Dreams and No Less

Shall I sing out in joy or cry in pain?
Dance through the night or fall down to my knees? 
Will you puddle jump or hide from the rain?
Build up a fire or let yourself freeze?
Sing say you, jump say I for life is short
And time is wasted when spent in sorrow
So live and be merry, play and make sport
Gather new friends wherever you may go
You should heed my words and take my advice
For I know what a sad life sorrow makes
Like an anchor it weighs down men to mice
And leaves volumes of tears as big as lakes
Banish the anchor, embrace happiness
Find your passion, live your dreams and no less 

The sonnet took a while to write, it took time and effort. It took thought. I wrote the free verse to make a point. I set a timer for two minutes and just wrote. Two minutes of effort in the free verse, an hour on the sonnet, and the two poems received the same rating 4/5. 

Also, the someone else made a comment about the sonnet's structure, but their comment made it very clear that they didn't know what a sonnet was. I have only posted a few sonnets on this site, for that reason. 

People just don't seem to appreciate sonnets as much as they used to. And since, I find most free verse tedious and pointless, like they were too lazy to rhyme but didn't want to write enough to make it a story either, that doesn't bode well for me. Though, I generally dislike free verse, I'd like to point out now that I have found some that I like. But sonnets remain my favorite.