Hope
An old one from the archive, posted in response to the “Sod it Sonnet”.
Hope
Of all the blights, of all the banes that mar,
the wretchedness, the callous blows that grate,
the stinging left by Fortune’s bleeding scar,
the endless fight with unforgiving Fate;
Of all the bitter things that scrape and rasp,
the acid drip of days that bite, that grab,
the fumes of rotting years that choking, gasp
and leave behind a raw unhealing scab;
Of all the bricks, the sideswipes Life can dole,
the disappointments piled in putrid layers,
that seep through splinters of the weary soul
catching hard-earned numbness unawares;
Of all Life’s fogs, through which I blindly grope,
God spare me from the worst: the stench of Hope.
© Elfstone 19/4/08
Gothicman posted a sonnet on Monday (which he has unfortunately deleted) and we had a ‘chat’ about rhythm (iambic pentameter). That brought this to mind and, as it hasn’t seen the light of day for a number of years, I thought it might be worth reposting it.
© Elfstone 2023
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Nice one, elf. This is a shakespearean sonnet. Just for your info, there are other types of sonnet with different forms but none as popular – for instance a Russian sonnet is also normally five feet to a line, but can have three four, or six. The original sonnets (Italian) had a abba rhyme pattern but English sonnets are always abab.
(there – Thankyou Google)
My thanks egriff for your thoughts on this. I always seem to write Shakespearean sonnets rather than Petrarchan and I have no idea why that is; it’s just the way they come to me. Glad you approve of this one. 🙂 Elfstone
I’m not one for classical structure, Elf. I most certainly don’t know enough about the form to make more than a personal observation. I do love iambic pentameter though, especially when employed by Shakespeare and more effectively, Robert Burns. However, I know what I like. This I like… This I like enough to nominate it.
Great work.
Cheers,
Jim
Oh gosh!! Franciman I’m delighted!! Thank you so much for your kind comment and for nominating this. *blushes even more deeply* Elfstone.
Clever this Elf. I enjoyed it very much…I am not a poetic theorist I just know what I like 😉
gerry x.
Delighted that you enjoyed this rather bleak offering Gerry. 🙂 Elfstone
Gosh Gothic, I wish you could see me blushing at such praise – I am!! I certainly didn’t mean to post this in a “see what I can do” way – it was just an example of the rhythm and a suggestion (just that) that this kind of fairly rigid structure still has something to offer.
“it feels authentic and to me is quite brilliant” what a humbling comment – I’m very chuffed. My grateful thanks for leaving such a lengthy, supportive comment. Elfstone
Doesn’t matter to me what any type of poetry is officially called, if it’s as amazing as this one I call it wonderful. It’s the words that call to the soul not the list it is on. Loved every word, every letter of this one 🙂 Sue.
My grateful thanks Sweetwater! You’re right of course that in the end if the words speak to you – without the technique getting in the way – then that’s what matters. So pleased that you loved every word. 🙂 Elfstone