Elaborate Restraint, S/Q Sonnet from January Challenge Options

[Larry]

Elaborate Restraint

The years and resolutions fade with time
filled with fond memories and lies; or fears
of things to come. This winter paradigm
and resolutions fade with time. The years

begin with solemn vows to self… insane!
Your promises, like misbegotten pelf,
will never be achieved and you’ll remain
insane. Begin with solemn vows to self

each day. Small steps may lead you to success.
Don’t leap from precipice into the blue
of some unknown. Relish one day’s largesse.
Success! Each day, small steps may lead you to

desires held in your heart. Each day you start.
Each day you start desires held in your heart.

[Alan]

Dear Larry,

Darn,
I will never attempt one of these - you make them seem so easy, yet stupendous amounts of work must have gone into it !

Love
Alan

[Thoth]

Hi Larry

First, best wishes to you for 2011.

I echo Alan's words. Very elegant, very refined, a paradigm of the craft indeed.
The lesson is a good one! Like going on a diet, it is more effective to make slow consistent changes to a lifestyle. I was long ago declared insane by colleagues. (Whether from attempted resolutions or not remains unclear to me.)

Thanks for sharing that remarkable piece.

Wally

[Larry]

Hi Alan and Wally,

I blush profusely at your praise.

Alan, there is at least a good week of work in this one. The hardest part was utilizing emjambment to both maintain the line of thought and do this without seeming redundant. You really should try one. I know you have written some excellent S/Q verse. It takes just a bit more effort to turn it into a sonnet.

Wally, I'm glad you understand the "one step at a time" routine. I too have heard insinuations of insanity but give little weight to such preposterous pronouncements. I have only one resoulution each year - "No resoultions"! By doing so, I break only one.

Larry

[Alan]

Dear Larry,

Thank you, but really ! I can write some quite good stuff, incl form poems. It is not the sonnet addition I baulk at, but the SQ. I have done some, ut think my efforts pathetic v. Daniel's, and yours.

I did note the superb enjambment you managed here, and it jarred ONLY because I was so fascinated by its smoothness !

Villanelles and Triolets are forms I feel much more at home with - as a poet I am a Wham, Bam, Than you Ma'am type.

Love
Alan

[Larry]

Hi Alan,

Still think you should give it a try. It is both seductive and addictive when the thought comes out just right.

I know you are great with villy's. Take a look at my new effort in that genre in the January Challenge section and let me know what you think.

Later,
Larry