On Sonnets

I was always the awkward one.  I remember at school in English we did sonnets on afternoon.  For most of us it was information we saw no need for.There’s two forms of sonnets (bet you did not know that).

Shakespearian – 14 lines divided 4 4 4 2

Italian – also 14 lines, but  divided 4 4 3 3.

And Sir (I’ve forgotten the teacher’s name) asked us which version we preferred.  Most of us were fairly thoroughly bored by the whole thing, but since he’d already made it plain he preferred the Italian version everyone stuck their hand up for the Italian.

I’d looked at the two examples he gave , and decided I quite liked the Shakespearian one. I like the rhyming couplet at the end. So I stuck my mitt up and said so.  I was the only kid to do that.  I don’t think Sir liked it.

I’ve been stroppy ever since. and getting worse (or maybe better?)  with age, but I still like Shakespearian sonnets, there’s one on this website here under poems.    And last night I woke up with this one in my head. It’s about how I feel about my cancer, and how much I owe to my wife’s support. I hope you like it.

You have my love, that is the simple truth~
Because by love you earned that sovereign right
Because we made a vow in far-off youth
And kept it in this latest darkest night

You stood beside me when I failed to cope
With grief and held my hand against the dark
You gave me strength, when we could find no hope
Of dawn or any night-dispelling spark

But hope has come, the long night had an end
And waiting now is different agony
And maybe hope will prove again false friend
Or maybe be the path that sets me free

Whatever comes, I have you by my side
My sweetheart true, who was in youth my bride