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As a variation to the Shakespearean Sonnet, the Spenserian Sonnet
combines both the Italian and the English forms, using three quatrains
and a couplet but employing linking rhymes between the quatrains,
a.b.a.b....b.c.b.c....c.d.c.d....ee. Purists would insist on the meter being Iambic Pentameter or Tetrameter, but remember this form originated before formalisation.
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Spenserian Sonnet Challenge Replies
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Maryse AchongThe sonnet always intimidates me, Just thinking about it can make me sweat, 'Too difficult,' the thought comes rapidly, "Coward," mocks a small voice, "let's make a bet. If you're not game though then we can forget About it, not bother to even try;" And almost convinced I decide to let It go, and hear myself breathing a sigh Of relief, but not for long because I Am somehow determined to write one more... 'An easy one I think, I don't see why I can't succeed… I've done a few before. Imperfect, but a sonnet all the same, Unless you choose to give it a new name. back to list |
Divena Collins A beautiful lady with grace, and charms so kind and special, with a heart of gold, there to comfort with her loving arms safe and warm from the winters cold Her beauty remained, when she grew old inside, and out, she still seemed the same, she never changed with affection untold, always there for us, yet again and again. It was never in her heart to complain, when she was in sorrow, or feeling low, she had the home stead to maintain, but now shes gone, and now we know. She made us then, what we are today, blessed, by her own very special way. ----- Earth Sisters  Oh Sisters of the earth come prance in grassy meadows, by the stream you may step, and you may dance on stepping stones, by water bream. Honeysuckle of the mead` redeem a heavenly scent to infuse the air, petals enhance. the palest of cream which siblings weave thro`silken hair. Dancing thro`green meadow fair, underneath the willows bowers, holding, hands in dance they share, magic moments, of mystical powers. Oh Sisters of the earth, come sing in the midst of a magic faerie ring. ----- Earthly Love  If I could, but only, thank my love for his love for me, does appease, I would gladly send from above, kisses for him, in a gentle breeze. Love is likened, to waves of high seas which softens then becomes calm, swelling back, to a crescendo tease to a soothing caressing sweet balm. Playfully holding my hand in his palm as we meet the foam of the tide, all is bliss, I enclosed in his arms with a beautiful feeling inside. Fondly observing, bright stars above, This time, stands still, for those in love. ----- Flying Without Wings  My heart is full of tender love when my lover draws me near, I thank the moon and stars above for his affection I hold so dear. Sweet love he whispers in my ear. as he holds me close to his chest , my love for him I do so endear I know we two are so blessed. Spirits as one, on their final quest, taking flight to the land of desires, soaring upward to a tranquil rest. to extinguish the flame of fires. Two hearts both drift high to sing Are flying gently without wings. ----- The Tarot Hark I hear an Angels voice she speaketh to me in my ear, and told of future to rejoice that I have no cause to fear. She said to dry away my tear, plucked a tarot card from pack, to hold close to my heart so dear for true love I would not lack. Since then I never did look back for her prophesy, it came true, in time I found, I had the knack to reveal the tarot cards too. The future awaits let the truth be told prophesies from the cards to behold. back to list |
Jem Farmer I dared not dream of better tomorrows when darkness filled my mind with caustic rage my heart could only know of love's sorrows. as angry words lay cursed upon the page My blackened senses were coming of age reflecting bitter pain with opaque eyes, ignoring pleas from love, a bitch's wage; conceals a child beneath a mask of lies. Yet you my love could hear my lonely cries and days of sadness are left in the past, as tears are dried with more sensual sighs, my softened heart has found true love at last. Those days of emptiness now disappear where darkness reigned I feel you drawing near. ----- Golden Truths  As trees begin to swell and bud with life, The Sun shall linger longer with each day, A sparrow seeks himself a loving wife And spirits sing, for Spring is on its way. As seeds start bursting in their beds of clay Are touched by living beauty, fresh and new, The Pagan heart, in homage, comes to pray By silver light to share the witches' brew. And eyes now seek the signs of love in you A crocus bud amid the melting snow, The daffodil is calling loud and true, These golden truths the heart has come to know. The Imbolc light of hope remains the same As seasons turn to end the Winter's claim ----- Litha Wreath We sing and dance to celebrate the dawn, the early dawn of day and summer sun, as Gods of sun and feasting greet the morn, this blesséd morning light greets the Pagan. The Pagan heart recalls the oldest one, one circle turns towards the longest day, in days of old when nature's tale begun, beginning with no end, the circles stay. To stay amid the Stones as pipers play, and playful drumbeats echo through the ground, a groundless fiddle sings to lead the way, a way to pass along the Solstice sound. The sounds of poets scribing for the night, this night when stories set the world alight. ----- Merrydown The moonlit glade where fairies dance tonight, as pipes and harps deliver songs for all, amid the pines that shine with starry light, and birds shall sing of Merrydown's ball. In summer's heat the waltzes beat will call, from daisy heads that lie beneath the trees, to bees that buzz the fairy ethereal, and softest petals twirl upon the breeze. Where elves and pixies jitterbug with ease, and run around your toes without a care, as gnomes have mischief to share and tease, when caught by fairies wand, a magic dare. The honeydew mead sets the world in trance, and fairy folk will sing as footsteps dance. ----- Minerva Come to my garden where a dryad dreams, we're chasing fairies to where rainbows end, a happy time of laughter's joyous screams, and Mother Nature is a special friend. Oh Minerva, the queen of fae, portend, another world where Man has heart to care, with greed the reason we cannot depend, on Nature's gifts, are we so unaware? The things we do destroy and leave despair, a world where birds no longer fly or sing, is this the destiny we are to share, or shall we chase the fairies on the wing? A simple thought before we speak or act, our planet needs our love, and that's a fact! ----- A Moonless Path When dreams become an endless state to face, and stars begin to fade beside the sun, I walk alone in this ethereal space, my loveless heart has left so much undone. A moonless path; the way my death begun, as morning came but there's no sign of day, the darkness moulds around a life now done, and leads my soul to find the spirit way. This longest night, who hears the words I pray, but she who held my heart in love and life, her smile relights my fire, I want to stay, she takes my hand and leads me from the strife. Rebirth of love beyond the mortal lands, a journey's end in Elysion sands. ----- Viva Voce The sweetest taste is found between you and I, your honeyed scent still lingers in my mind, as glacé eyes recall a sated sigh, your succulence a treasure worth its find. Exotic fruit to leave my senses blind, as sugared candy fills my mouth with joy, the brief moment in time we intertwined, my tongue became my lover's tactile toy. A silky flow of nectar lips employ, one breath caressed your scented sexy mist, while teasing juices sate a hungry boi, as desire blossoms out in lover's kiss. Embracing pleasure wrapped in deepest love, viva voca it's you I'm thinking of. back to list |
Ryter RoethicleIn life we travel and leave behind a trail Like a wagons wheels on the virgin plains Or sandy footprints that tides in time will veil There will in time be nothing that remains. Those tracks have now been replaced by trains Tides have washed away that temporary print The trains have gone in part replaced by planes And like other things moved on without a hint. Mankind's belief is based on a powerful mint Believes money is power, and I hear nature scoff In just one day nature can make a man skint In such a way there is no insurance write off. So the seasons come and go, as also do we But how long will it take some men to see? ----- Movements In Time Movements in time as the breeze hits the willow tree, The willow bends o'er not as a servant, no way It's simply moving its branches subtly to the breeze And allows the wind an easier way to play. This is how nature has begun each day The willow feels the wind as it strokes her limbs Enjoys the tempo and begins her sensuous sway Feeling that way, and allows her emotions to climb. So like a lover approaching that moment sublime Movements betray desire and a need for much more Wind dances with Willow increasing tempo and time Like any lover in that desire to explore. Whilst all a human will see is a bending tree That's more conforming to the desire of humanity ----- My Wings My wings shall cover the tapestried earth In addition, the shot blue silk of the sea Flying high west seeing the sun give birth The world so far below in my apogee My wings ride the silken morn with glee As I pattern the silent and sunlit sky Under Cancer and Capricorn, envy me For I'm flying where birds can never fly My wings cover the world so easily Soaring over the conquered mountain Where cloud pennants unfurl so high Over where I have ruled as sovereign Wings quieter now sing softer songs in flight Begining their decsent towards the night. ----- Perhaps I was the dirty little boy looking up your dresses. I was the boy who wouldn't kiss girls, they aren't tough I was the brat who put bubble gum in your tresses. I was that boy who liked Rugby and liked to be rough. I was that boy who rode his bike behind your bus You looked behind and smiled and played hard to get Remembering that school dance, we couldn't get enough Time together, and that kiss we had, do you regret? I was that man who sent you flowers, did you forget, Or for some unknown reason, just choose to ignore. What was it I said that made you so upset? Perhaps I should take the hint and close the door. I am the man who believes doors will always open. Finally I am the man, hearing you, saying welcome. ----- Shadows The way shadows blend and merge as we wander See as we walk the way the shadows hold hands Making them more real than us and we wonder The sun creates black images out of golden bands. Look at them now walking across those sands Then having been joined cannot be pulled apart Looking only at each other ignoring all demands See how they blend, and share only one heart. What is reality? Is it together that we start An absence of body is this what reality means How we can merge so there's no way to part To where non physical self is what life means. Would that we were they, to join without fuss A unity of mind and souls, I wish it were thus. ----- Spiritual Feelings The lonely night begins drawing swiftly down As she creeps softly in without a sound And covers the world in a deep black gown I close my eyes, but sleep cannot be found. Then your loving spirit wraps itself around Distance shrinks in somnambulistic pleasure An ethereal blanket keeps me safe aground Dreaming and picturing warm nights together. Lovers inseparate, knowing a love forever As I sleep alone in this far distant place I'm warmed knowing we could never sever I feel my heart beat faster and my pulse race. With mornings light finding myself blessed All the time spent apart could never be a test. ----- Twilight Twilight glimmers with unclaimed hopes and dreams It is the dawn of night promising things to come What love of day is not bettered by moonbeams And reluctant new love found easier begun? Often loves words are smothered by the light and sun Yet freely given and warmly received at night. Shyness is a curse, and words at night are easier won So speak, your heart will guide your tongue what's right. There you'll find your words will with love ignite Then with the dawn side by side you will lay Your words of love no longer fearful of the light And smile together still as united you greet the day. Welcome the Sun, but be not afraid to watch it go Be thankful knowing somewhere a love will grow. ----- Undeniable I surrender my heart to you certain That we will never part, a paradigm That all other lovers may try to attain And that they will know they could in time. Then envy us as they watch us on loves climb Then even though for a while we must part Be secure in having a love so sublime Seeing others pray that their love will start Whilst we secure in knowledge whilst apart Will have created a garden of love so lush And have made love growing into a fine art That lovers all over will see and envy us. In that garden each night I will surrender And as in token to that I will now swear. ----- Values Reviewed Only when you have kissed Death are you aware Til then there was uncertainty, and ambivalence! Seeing the reaper, sweeping you with his glare Hearing the wailing of Death as she starts to prance. Seeing her as she points to you and begins to advance Clad in white gossamer with her arms extended Calling you to her side you begin your last dance It's then you'll know your life has just ended. Then you will see white wings of Death outspread Cognisant what was stolen long ago is there And life only starts when you accept your dead. Then to have life given back you really care. You wake you and your soul to life once again Now knowing that your life can never be the same. back to list |
Leny RooversBetween embracing layers of Night's first sleep, I feel your warm caress upon my skin; I revel in your touch and snuggle deep into my dreams, to keep you close within. The sense of where I end and you begin, has silently dissolved in love's soft hold- surrendering my thoughts, I rest therein, find peace in our togetherness' new mould. We'll wait and watch as petals will unfold, reveal love's flower inside come into bloom; her promise I am willing to uphold- we'll share the sweetness of her light perfume. Night draws us deep into his sleepy realms, while Wind sings lullabies within the elms.  ----- If words could If words could build, we'd call a mansion home; but promises won't draw a house in stone, they're like a distant rainbow's coloured dome- to live and love takes more than words alone. If words could cook a feast, we'd never moan from hunger, charms once spoken, would bring meals; yet breath articulated, can't form bones, just brittle emptiness, no meals on wheels. When words no longer can conceive ordeals, they sit like flat balloons, all shrivelled up; enchantment lost its lustre, slowly keels. Goodbye is leaking from love's battered cup. I'll keep your cup to dust from time to time, in honour of a love once thought sublime.  ----- Let's fly away Come hold my hand, my love and keep me close, tonight we'll fly together when we dream- amidst the Milky Way our cloud-ship glows, reflecting twinkling stars and Moon's cool beam. Our flight will take us higher than jet's stream, as hand in hand we'll rise above the spheres until we'll reach that quiet plane supreme, where pain and fear at last will disappear. Stay by my side, my love, I'll dry your tears and kiss away old worry-lines of doubt. From now on life will leave sweet souvenirs and we'll cast off all loneliness and drought. As joined by hand and heart, we fly away, when morning comes, it brings a bright new day.  ----- Meditation I meditate and watch how inner waves abate, each thought a six foot white crowned tower at the start- destructive power solved in silence at Your gate. Each inhalation brings You deeper in my heart. I listen to my mantra's song, Your name imparts a soft acceptance of this troubled sea of mind; enveloped by Your peace I feel all stress depart. A quiet lake engulfs my soul, with You entwined. I concentrate on each repeat that helps remind me how connected, I exist within Your grace. You penetrate my skin and blood, we are combined; uplifted by clear streams of sound, I'm touching base. I meditate and join the stillness that is You; I realize that I am You forever true.  back to list |
Nia WynneAbove you rises the expansive skies Where angels and dragons fly boldly, No fear of shadowy realms or death sighs, Protectors of all good creatures, we're told. So are the dragons angels, or mere dreams, Then, too, could angels be dragons in disguise? So sorry to confuse you with the screams You hear of white wing'd gulls seeming to arise. From shore to starry heights dragons wings spread A vista of pure plumes on azure backdrop, Guardians and keepers of loves light, shed In all the earth domains wherein they may stop. For blessed are the angels and their best friends The angel dragons of yore, which transcends. ----- Hearing and Feeling Sea gulls in the sky, radio voices Are an everyday thing, everyday sounds. But when the radio is making my choices, Voices speaking only to me, heart pounds. Anxiety comes like a sonic boom, My tales of woe can never be believed. The drama begins to take shape, like doom, And dread dwells deep, no way to be relieved. Gulls never talk to me, just radios, Oh, but it isn't real people, my mind Is making it up. They laugh at "scitso's" Even when the truth's told, no one's kind. I hear the birds, but nothing true in words, Not my own, only doctors and bastards.  ----- In the Light In the light there are many true colors And as blooms appear they become so dear That you must save them like your first dollar, Somehow the beauty has to be kept near. In the light all things clearly are then seen And seem that much more lovely, like a dream Of technicolor clarity, just keen, Clean, pristine as if suns heat made it gleam. In the light friendship is a stream held Back by the log jam of love and respect, Yet free to flow around, in, under and weld To hearts changed by the full sum of it. The light shines brightest when dawn breaks new, Flowers and friends are many, for some, few.  back to list |
Divena & RyterUnveil your heart and let it beat with mine Each beat caused by you, your words and deeds Even now looking as you do, somnolent, divine Make me realize you fill all my earthly needs. This unveiled heart of mine, for you concedes Two loving hearts combined, shall beat as one Earthly needs fulfilled, as our love proceeds What we have together, must never be undone. Not tide or time could erase what we've begun Two souls now one shall share through eternity Knowing lovers will envy what we have done And be jealous of our love and our affinity. A love so strong will never perish, How deeply we, our love will cherish. back to list |
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