Sonnets
Picture of White
Picture of White
Awarded
Thirteener Sonnet
This variation was invented by John Hollander. It has 13 lines, each possessing 13 syllables. It is a syllabic form, and has no rhyme or metrical scheme.
Heart’s Reflection
Heart’s Reflection
Reflections of your heart upon a page,
resting in the soft bindings of my soul.
My love for you will never truly age.
In this relationship we have our role
as symbiotic as ink on paper.
The two of us as one becoming whole.
We have leaped for joy living our caper,
and will share our love ‘til this story ends.
Our feelings will grow and never taper,
a lasting story to excite our friends.
After death takes us we will not worry,
because a love as ours surly transcends.
Through the years we’ve had no need to hurry,
enjoying our life as in a flurry.
Woman In My Mind
Mistress of the swirls stuck in my mind,
as I lay and fantasize my perfect woman.
Soft, delicate and the perfect size.
I’ve searched and searched but could never find,
from where I am to the isles of Cayman.
Dreaming of this woman in my heart
People say I am not wise,
though in my dreams I am entwined
and I’ll do what I want as a free man.
One day they will be surprised,
for I shall find my work of art
and they will choke in their disbelief.
Then I’ll come home and do my part,
no longer carrying anymore heart grief.
Imaginings
What is that I see blurred before my eyes,
but an artist’s vision of what might be.
Touches in the night melded in pastel?
Tenderness causing soft and muted cries?
In my mind I can almost hear her plea,
as his hand slides slowly between her thighs.
Though that is but one vision created here,
many more I am sure you could agree.
I’ll leave those all to you and will not dwell.
Hopefully making that perfectly clear,
and with that thought I bid thee all farewell.
With Cheer!
Sapphic Desire
Sapphic Desire
Women making love stirs my soul.
Just the thought of tempting saphos,
two beings changing their set role.
Why does this subject set my fire,
like most men I would dare presume.
Igniting my want and desire,
to slide gently inside their womb.
Does that wanting make us all bad,
a lesbian that is scantly clad,
enjoying that which can’t be had.
One of life’s wantings yet untouched,
not to ever be had it seems.
The thought has never made me blushed,
simply stimulated my dreams.
Forever Trapped
Forever Trapped
Trapped forever behind these sharp barbs of wire,
missing all the love and warmth I desire.
Living alone with her scorn and distaste,
feeling as though I’m just a guy for hire.
Trudging along with my whole life to waste,
put here ago as if I once were placed.
Just picked up and dropped here without consent,
I am stuck here forever as if by paste.
Don’t know why I’m here, don’t know what it meant,
but here I stay as just this kind old gent.
I took those vows and I meant what was said,
so here I have been all these long years spent.
Year after year, and with each one I dread,
stuck here forever to the woman I wed.
Finding Our Way
Ying and Yang, life pulls in both directions
as we find our way in this existence.
Learning as we grow and sometimes tripping,
not always following the proper path.
Darkness and light upon our consciousness,
tempting us as we travel the growing.
At times hoping we are righteously set,
though others know we give to desire.
Life is a series of pulling and tugs,
hopefully choosing the right more often.
Feeling ourselves as we wish others do,
wanting to live good and true to our ways.
Ending we can only lay and ponder,
waiting cold and alone on our death bed.
Back to Reality
Shooting stars above a hot desert sky,
the crescent moon floating way up there high.
Lightning zigzagging from the extreme heat
as the sands sit still in the windless night.
Visions like this are a wondrous sight.
Feeling blessed being able to enjoy,
for sights like this one are the real McCoy,
and most certainly are sweeter than sweet.
Stirring emotions deep within this old soul,
making it hard to remember my roll.
Then there is gunfire off in the distance,
artillery flying over my head.
War reminding me of my existence,
hugging the sand and hoping I’m not dead.
The Rosarian Sonnet
This variation abandons the tradtional octave/sestet division in place of two quintains (5-line stanza) and a concluding quatrain. The two quintains are linked by a middle rhyme, a,a,b,c,c, d,d,b,e,e. As with the Italian Sonnet, there are multiple choices for the rhyme scheme of the final stanza, ie f,g,f,g, or f,g,g,f.
Awarded Poetic Constellations
Unknown Road
Unknown Road
The road goes on with curves and hilly slopes,
as the sun sets slowly in the west.
Thus we go though life with our dreams and hopes,
as we move along in our life long quest.
Sometimes the evening sky is red as fire,
then there are other sad times our life is dire.
Those are the times it burns red in the morning,
and we must forge ahead and heed the warning.
Life can change and spin on a dime,
causing our journey to surround us in good.
Counting our blessings as we truly should,
enjoying the bounty of that great time.
Never knowing what is around the bend
unaware of how our life will end.
© 2008 Philip N. Carcione