Sonnet (with suggested revision), Happy Thoughts Options

[jerryk]

Revised Sonnet to Happy Thoughts

At times, when fair poetic winds do fail
And leave me in the doldrums latitude
Without a breeze to fill a sonnet’s sail,
I simply save my sinking attitude
By taking Shakespeare’s quill. And so I write,
But still abstain from lines much brayed by mules
That whine about past loves, and themes too trite,
Their overuse has dulled these once sharp tools.
Of joyful things I’d rather write to you.
Let songs of cheerful spring and summertime
Replace the wintry owls’ “Tu-whit, tu-who”—
(I robbed “Love’s Labour’s Lost” to suit this rhyme).
When gladness fills a poet’s heart, I'll share;
Self-pity falls on ears that do not care.

Sonnet to Happy Thoughts ** original

At times, when fair poetic winds do fail
And leave me in the doldrums latitude
Without a breeze to fill a sonnet’s sail,
I simply save my sinking attitude
By taking Shakespeare’s quill. And then I write,
But still abstain from lines much brayed by mules
That whine about past loves, and themes so trite,
Their overuse has dulled these once sharp tools.
Of joyful things I’d rather write to you.
Let songs of cheerful spring and summertime
Replace the wintry owls’ “Tu-whit, tu-who”—
(I robbed “Love’s Labour’s Lost” to suit this rhyme).
When gladness fills a poet’s heart, then share;
Self-pity falls on ears that do not care.

[Psyche]

Hi again, Jerry,

Just to continue this interesting thread that sprang from your amusing sonnet.

I re-read W.S.'s Sonnet I and I'm amazed at his use of end rhymes, which certainly add to the perfection of his poems. Maybe they are the reason that he's never to be forgotten.

For example:

die
memory

(I remember my dear mother telling me that the author wanted one to emphasize certain sounds, such as reading 'memory' to rhyme with 'die'. Sometimes one had to read the word as 'memoree'. And so on. Was she right?)

ornament
content

spring
niggarding

(This last one is fantastic! )

So let's have fun and copy the master!

Concerning Caps, there appears to be a return to that in some poetry, present authors. I agree with Larry about Caps 'getting in the way' of the flow and comprehension. I've even seen them used in prize-winning FV poems!

Don't know what to think. I bet the authors don't know the origins of that rule, which Larry mentions. Interesting.

Cheers, Syl***