FRENCH SONNET

By the time Wyatt and Surrey introduced Petrarch to England, sonnets were popular throughout Europe, including France where a group called "Pleiade" was dedicated to importing Italian poetry.
Despite the aggression between the two countries, because of the closeness of France is it logical to assume that there would be a secondary source of the sonnet form imported into England via France.
Realistically apart from the 14 lines, and an octave of two quatrains there is no obvious link of the English to the Italian Forms as the internal rhymes are different, and what is proposed, is that the French Sonnet formed that link. Like the Italian and the English it has an octave comprising two quatrains, but unlike the Italian and like the English it has a sestet of a couplet and a quatrain. It is possible that the English sonnet was derived from the French not the Italian. The difference being that the English grouped the Quatrains together and turned (Volta) with a couplet the last two lines, but the French turned with the sestet and used the quatrain to close.
The internal rhyme is still different, but that can be attributed to the differences of the "Romance" language which has its own natural rhythm and rhyme, compared to English and the more natural did dah line rhyme just as Iambic is considered to be "English Sing Song".
The form has exactly the same quatrain as the Petrarch - a.b.b.a...a.b.b.a.
The sestet begins with a couplet - c.c., but like the Italian sestet, we have a choice of quatrains to play with. - d. e. e. d.
or more French, - d. c. c. d.
or more English - d. e. d. e.

Wet Behind The Ears

"Astronomers Find Water On The Moon!"
And here you thought we'd wasted time and cash
Going all that way to bring back rocks and ash;
This late reprieve may prove to be a boon...
For poets, and could not have come too soon;
Those barren seas had always been awash;
Tranquility, the perfect place to splash;
But science had deflated that balloon!
So now, as academics jump for joy,
A moonchild giggles at her bath tub toy;
Her mom tells dad he'd better cut the lawn
'Cause forecasts call for meteor showers.
This morning, on Earth, some time after dawn,
The Moon hung out with the Sun, for hours.

Kevin McKinney

French Sonnet Posts
Contents

Gloria Carpenter: No Doubts (Response to Perplexity); Nocturne
Deborah Bel: Thoughts
Lorainne Dafney: Thoughts
Kevin McKinney: Bonsai Love; Eleventh Hour Reprieve; Tight Tribute
Ryter Roethicle: Dragon Wings; Le Cafe; Perplexity; Within the setting sun
Leny Roovers: Yoga

Gloria Carpenter

No doubts...(Response to Perplexity)

A wanderer whose quest calls him away,
may touch with fingertips, a stroke of fond,
a tender kiss, a brief encounter bond,
as, with each sip of wine, love meets half way.
A smile speaks more than words could ever say,
not lingering on lips as it responds,
but reaching to the depths and far beyond
into eternity, without delay.
Come, listen to my eyes, hear what is meant,
for there you’ll find my love, my true intent.
Yet, could we talk together, eye to eye,
no doubts to cloud our vision, torment free,
connections finding silence as the key
to holding hands, and never question why?

-----

Nocturne

A myriad of eyes reflect her view ~
a panorama spread beneath her feet,
as limbs relax against a silken sheet,
atop a perch where dreams on wings accrue.
No slumber yet; soft music drifts into
her resting place, her composition suite
of love notes, playing nocturne’s heartache beat,
as memories of romance sift on through.
But why regret what isn’t there to see,
when recognizing harmony is key?
She smiles a gentle smile as twinkles glow,
and winks at flashing signs on a marquee.
Perspectives from this height, to this degree,
remind her, once again, of letting go ~

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Lorainne Dafney

Thoughts

Blank paper its time for you and I
to color the empty
with words of beauty
as I begin this task I cry
For many reasons I know not why
I feel this need to be pithy
knowing it is my duty
to give thoughts that are frail and shy
New wings to travel and explore
and gently open each closed door
for it is better to try
to write than not at all
and answer ones inner call
to be free to fly

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Kevin McKinney

Bonsai Love

It's easy to compare love to a rose;
The delicate and dangerous cliche's;
Emerging and yet rooted in its ways;
The darling bud that every sophomore knows;
The haute couture of all of nature's clothes;
Enjoying care and loving sunny days;
Surviving, even thriving cutting blades,
As season after season the heart grows.
And then I'd have to write myself the bee
Whose fascination I did not foresee;
As yours became my garden to attend,
Sweetly. Marking your tendency toward light,
And hopefully, remaining in your sight,
I'll come to see which way the vine will bend.

-----

Eleventh Hour Reprieve

Why lingers this interminable hour,
While all the rest have elapsed with such speed;
And all that we have sown has gone to seed?
Why crane our necks toward ivory towers
To beg for wisdom from higher powers;
When yet, in fact, we have within our sights
The dream potential of ten thousand nights,
And our hearts could bloom like lotus flowers?
We carry burdens never meant to be
So heavy to prevent us being free,
Nor weigh us down with guilt and shame. Instead,
We ought just use the eyes we have to see,
That we restrain ourselves; we hold the key;
And we decide the path on which we tread!

-----

Tight Tribute

I'd like to buy the house one more wee drop
Before the time runs on the current task;
So far, it's done far more than I could ask
In helping irrigate the current crop.
I must confess, I don't expect to stop
Siphoning words from inside oaken casks
And pouring liquid gold into my flask
For further use, two fingers from the top.
It's served quite well to lubricate the gears
And loosen parts that had been stuck for years.
Yes, I am more full than I predicted,
And as I live, I never sip alone;
Drinks around, and happily addicted,
Tonight we sing, tomorrow we atone!

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Ryter Roethicle

Dragon Wings

Gliding on mighty dragon wings,
Floating high o’er silken cloud,
Of sweet white cotton candy crowd,
Looking below makes my heart sing.
Ploughed field are not for kings
Tapestried earth make farmers proud
But fit warriors only with a shroud
And dragons think of different things.
We think of gold as common stuff,
Greed and power is the sin of clan.
Whilst what we have is quite enough,
Humans acquire what e’r they can.
Being told that their life is tough,
This is the first lie told by man.

-----

Le Cafe

Guitars, soft rhythm slips out,
Like a soft, tongued incision,
Licking, slowly, into persuasion,
Until achieving that ecstatic shout.
Percussion beats its electronic pout,
A more solid bodied invasion,
Powerful, thrusting, precision,
Of orgasmic rhythm, no doubt.
Yielding calls to another’s soul,
Are answered making one whole.
Gentle heartbeats are shared by two,
And caring conversation is the way.
Love and music shall carry the day,
And carry into the night time to.

-----

Perplexity

WHEN I talk to you the words come easy,
Yet inside the turmoil, the excitement,
Can my words cause you torment,
When each syllable slips out so freely?
Show me that you think I’m worthy,
And you really know what is meant.
Don’t miss my love, my true intent,
My mind willing to speak so lovingly.
But what of you, what do you say
Except to smile, and then walk away.
Understand my doubt and set me free,
Do not walk away, instead please talk,
Then hand in hand, we can walk,
And spend together in eternity.

-----

Within the setting sun

Your eyes reflect gold from the setting sun.
Your kiss is far sweeter than any breeze.
Your movements show intent to please,
In my heart I know our eve has just begun.
That feeling now, oh how my head has spun,
Just like waves I feel your gentle touches tease.
Your voice, a whisper gives my senses ease,
I can't wait to see your eyes in the rising sun.
Like the sand succumbs to the waved measure
I lie back awhile and savour this time of leisure.
Your eyes still flashing, they are oh so bright
I know now that I have found my treasure.
A life spent with you would be a pleasure,
So I kiss you, and bid you, a loving good-night.

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Leny Roovers

Yoga

As muscles strain and quiver, breathing slows;
I concentrate and straighten up my spine,
distracting thoughts are offered on a shrine-
my sanctum, where a thornless rose now grows.
With every inhalation freedom flows-
old bonds drop off as vertebrae align;
I stretch my arms behind me, hands entwine.
On breathing out I bow and touch my toes.
In yielding mind and body I’m set free-
I balance on one foot- a pliant tree.
As fragrant incense wafts from copper bowls,
it enters nose and sinuses- dissolves
each blockage met, till slowly peace evolves.
Soft music thrills my ears- reborn, I'm whole.

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