Last week’s sonnet, When the Morning Comes #156, was written on Sept 5, 2022 after taking a weekend off. As I said last week the break was after a 3 sonnet day the previous Friday (a Turkey for those who bowl). Since my rebirth as a Sonneteer, I’ve averaged 18 sonnets per month. In March I wrote only 2 and during a 5 week period this past summer I wrote 73. So far my most productive day was 5 sonnets. The 3 I wrote this day include my approach, tie and tiebreaker of The Bard’s total of 154. Again I must stress that this is a quantitative point, NOT qualitative. The middle sonnet that day I titled One Hundred Fifty Four for obvious reasons and that was written to Shakespeare in “his style” as a bit of a lark.
This week’s sonnet is a bit of a polemic to anyone who doesn’t like my writing. Poetry, like all art, is a very subjective thing. We like what we like and can be pretty stubborn about it. Let’s take drumming for instance. My mother’s favorite drummer was Gene Krupa and my father’s was Buddy Rich. Notice I didn’t say who they thought was the best drummer. Oh, they debated abilities but I try not to use the term “best”. Again, it’s very subjective. My favorite rock drummers are Keith Moon and John Bonham. The Neil Peart aficionados will blast me for such a statement but I didn’t say best, I said favorite. The ghost of Ginger Baker is surely going apoplectic at my statement as he was accustomed to deriding any drummer not seen in his mirror (especially my two favorites). Artists, much like their fans can be quite caustic regarding their “competition”. Just ask Keith Richards.
One of the reasons I write sonnets is due to their structure and complexity. It’s something that guides me whereas Free Verse poetry doesn’t (at the present time anyhow) speak to me. I seem to thrive within this box and I’ll admit to being a bit apprehensive about trying anything else for now.
This is a standard Shakespearean sonnet, three quatrains followed by a rhyming couplet, ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
Cast Your Stones #155 I should declare that I have been amiss, I've used the ninety two rule in my rhyme. Yet verse much worse exists, so don't dismiss That which my pen has bled, to me's sublime. I've kept my meter strong and true at ten, Both feet where they belong, ne'er out of whack. An offbeat accent placed both now and then And with judicious care I've cut them back. The coinage of my mint will turn some heads, Both new and mashed together you will find. Yet always with a purpose that embeds The meaning I meant that was predefined. Now cast your stones to bitter hearts' content, The work is all my own, I'll not repent. Frank Garnick © Copyright The Archer's March 02 September 2022
The title should be self explanatory once you’ve gotten through this one. The first quatrain begins with an admission of sometimes breaking rules. When I do it’s premeditated. (Also, if you notice an intertextual rip in my verse it’s on purpose. Any rip of that kind that comes organically is going to either be removed or scrutinized very deeply until it retroactively becomes intentional.) The ninety two rule is what can be termed a partial rhyme which I do use from time to time. Sometimes these things can’t be helped, take it up with my muse. As Joan said of Bob, “My poetry was lousy you said”, there’s much “worse” poetry out there so, too bad. I write for myself in the hopes that others may find pleasure (or even inspiration) in my verse.
The second quatrain explains (defends?) my strict adherence to iambic pentameter. I’ve read plenty of sonnets that were not very strict in their meter (or number of lines) and that’s alright but I can be a bit A.R. in my own work. Think Phil Hartman.
The third quatrain concerns my creative use of language and spelling. I will make up words, alter spelling or change the stress of a word to suit my mood. It’s rare but I do it. It’s my poem after all.
The couplet is basically a “flip off” to those who take issue with any technical anomalies in my writing. Mention them all you want, critique them all you want. I ain’t changing. Until I do.
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Your writing and poetry are amazing! All subjective :)