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2008 Form Challenges
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Of all the variations of the form we know as the sonnet today, the oldest is the Italian sonnet,
also known as the Petrarchan sonnet, after its most famous user, Francesco Petrarca. Originally, it
had no set structure and it was only after its adoption by the English that defined the Italian
sonnet to consist of an octave, or 8-line stanza, which set up a situation, followed by a sestet,
or 6-line stanza, which sets up a counter statement. It was only much later that Wyatt and Spencer formalised it by the use of Iambic Pentameter. Here is an example by John Milton. Note: even though it has been anglicized it is still presented as a 14 line poem.
There are 3 basic Italian Sonnet Forms;
The following are three basic versions of this form.
Whether you choose to follow the strict path of Iambic Pentameter is your decision, but as an alternative I would suggest using constant line lengths of 8 or 10 syllables. |
Italian Sonnet Challenge Replies
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Maryse AchongItalian Octave and Sestet Wish on a star to make your dreams come true, That is what the experts have always said, But I prefer to wish on clouds instead, It's something that I've always liked to do; Nicer when I am thinking thoughts of you, And memories of you waltz through my head; Like lambs they go wherever they are led, Until I it's time to bid them all 'adieu.' Sometimes I think I see your face up there, Imagine that you're looking down at me; But I know that it is only a game, And before long you vanish in thin air. If I had my way then you would still be Close by to answer when I call your name. ----- A New Day Ottava Rima and Italian Sestet Barack you have created history, The USA will never be the same; I pray that you will rule justly, wisely, As the world looks on and folks speak your name… Though not always with respect, dignity; But then that is all part of life's rough game. You ran the race and won, you're president, May all your decisions be heaven sent. McCain fought a good fight, a gentleman, With much to offer, you've acknowledged that; May differences be put aside as you Begin the task of healing your nation. May you search for and find ways to combat Obstacles 'long the way, there're quite a few! ----- Papers Please Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet My passport expires come March next year, I can't get an appointment 'til July; My ID card was stolen and I fear I never got it replaced, so now I Have no choice but to do so out of sheer Necessity, a case of do or die. If not I'll cease to exist, 'tis no lie. A citizen with no papers to show, It is a crying shame I must admit; I have to get those documents I know, There is just no way of escaping it. So off to the various persons I go, A task I don't enjoy one little bit. ----- Promises Italian Octave and Sestet Come to me when your soul is serene, stilled, And share your peace so I am tranquil too, You know that I'll always be there for you; And even when your heart is sorrow filled When dreams have been destroyed and hope is killed I'll soothe your troubled brow and help you through It all; you know without a doubt that's true. These promises I make will be fulfilled. And in return I shall ask this one thing To honour the trust I place willingly In you; for without trust naught will survive. But having it 'tween us then everything Will fall in place; and that seed of love we Planted, thus nurtured will blossom and thrive. ----- Shubh Diwali Italian Octave and Sestet I'm placing deyas in my home tonight To celebrate the feast of Diwali, To pray the dark that shadows my country Will be dispelled by the display of light; Though symbolic I'm hoping that it might Send a message to those who choose to see That it is time this ever lasting night Ends, so that once more we can walk freely. Good conquers evil and we have to try To live this message that is very clear, And as we watch our island's youngsters die We're duty bound to do something; to care. Not enough just to look towards the sky, Or live behind locked doors, cowered by fear. ----- Sonnetmania (Dialect) Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet Ah tryin to write ah special sonnet In dialect for everyone to see; Like ah seal dat stamped firmly upon it Wid de hallmark of ah true, true Trini. Ah cud feel it pullin like ah magnet, An Ah cyah help wonder how it will be. Ah writin buh meh heart beatin real fas. Dis is meh firs buh it might be meh las. Ah want meh words to sing wid riddum sweet, To flow like water dong dis empty page, Ah want to know yuh was tappin yuh feet. Ah tink Ah'll chrisen it 'Sonnet New Age' An it mus have a special kina beat, If Ah want it to be de lates rage. ----- Woman Power Italian Octave and Sestet Woman don't cry, don't waste your precious tears, Too many things in life to make us weep; So many commitments we have to keep. So often we're riddled with doubts and fears, That's how it always has been through the years; But we stood, took action when talk was cheap, Though sometimes without looking we would leap; Woman arise, we have crossed all frontiers. Know that you hold the future in your arms, Each little one a stake in things to come, The sweet promise of a new tomorrow; And as you nurture them, keep them from harm's Way, you play a great role, the one of Mum; From strength to greater strength may we all grow! back to list |
Peggy Nelson Life Italian Octave and Sestet Traveled over the worlds greatest mountains Marveled at many countless flowered fields Amazed when the decisions were revealed, For surviving immoral human strains Suffered from painful wars raging insane Blamed and damned by critics words unsealed Released from foolish lustful visual fields Where lusting spread infectious vast filled pain Sitting bare naked on stone to the bones Useless I be on earth; death becomes me Stilled within humans blood-spattered waters Farewell to Earths lashing, roaring cyclones Free I'll be from distractive rotting sprees Heaven bound where peaceful loving concurs. back to list |
Ryter RoethicleOttava Rima and Sicilian Sestet Be thou like a Rose my beloved Let not thy thorns keep me away. When I see thee I am resolved So pray hold me and bid me stay. Thy womanly scent has drawn me, My hasty actions thus betray Helpless like the worker bee I'm drawn Giving in to you I became your pawn. Nights become as day I wait on thee I am but a slave to give thee pleasure Tell me what ever it can be. I promise what e'r you ask I will treasure Nothing will be impossible to me I offer you a love beyond all measure. ----- Celestial Paths Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet Two lovers looked towards the sky and wished. A star in the night sky winked back at them. Thinking she'd granted them their wish they smiled, Paths are known to part, so we should not condemn. The star did not intend the lovers to be beguiled In innocence their lives had become a mayhem And a simple wink misunderstood as to its intent Where sometimes what we want to see isn't meant. A star is only a witness to an event She watches the earth each night where lovers meet. Deaf and innocent she doesn't know what's meant All she sees is love and watches the build of heat Seeing them after, kissing, happy and content But daytime brings guilt, misery and deceit. ----- City of Angels Ottava Rima and Italian Sestet All I heard was the scream of the jets As I tried to listen to the earth today Black car fumes, dust and cigarettes Blocked my thoughts there was no way That life could exist here without regrets. People take here without thought to pay The Earth breathes and lives and cares, Breathe, and live in this filth, who dares? Rain will not wash away this kind of grime, Those in control are deaf, and set in mind Nor do they care about their people's health. The boom of the earth is ignored by crime, They silence those who care and are kind For all they have ever cared for is wealth. ----- Give all to Love Italian Octave, Sicilian Sestet Tonight our love reached its peak so far. Yet I am reminded that there is nothing, Nothing we cannot do with the help of loving, Because each time we meet, we raise the bar. But there is no challenge, nothing from afar True love sets a higher mark to everything All who love naturally harken to its calling Freely bound to love to follow their love star In the light of dawn we will renew our vows Absent of stars, the sun will watch above Smiling, knowing that a thousand tomorrows Will not lessen by one thousandth of My feelings when one look is enough to arouse All of my desire to give all to love. ----- Gone are the days Italian Octave, Sicilian Sestet Gone are the warm days when I could hold you Now you are faced with the coldness of winter. Winter will not last this time, or any forever, This time no ice or snow will mar your view. Instead all that is needed is a kiss or two Or three, or four, preferably those that linger And will until your dying days remember Moments which until now have been so few. Time passes and in your winter I'll bring you heat That warmth will melt any shadow of doubt Instead pass on what is your own heartbeat. Together we will impress so that we may shout Our love to the world and boast of our feat And hand in hand see all of Eternity out. ----- Kicking te Night Ottava Rima, Sicilian Sestet I walk slowly along the suburban street Kicking the night along in front of me Carefully avoiding the rises in the concrete. With the poor street lights it's hard to see. Just watch for where shadows and white meet At least it's swept and there is no debris. I just had to get out and help clear my mind Words'd been said, that were unjust and unkind Today there was too much pain, Never again! But I say that every time and like the fool I am Commit myself to another plan that's inane I'll learn to find someone that's not a sham Ignore something else, for once use my brain. But why search, at my age why give a damn. ----- Kiss Me Ottava Rima, Sicilian Sestet Always kiss me goodnight, never say goodbye, Kiss me when you can, and when you can't, think of me. Love is much too precious to think, to ask why, And pain is caused by thinking where you want to be. Don't ever leave me wishing that I want to die Left wondering, hopeless in a black miasmic sea. I know about pain, have felt it many times before, But now I know you, I don't want that anymore. We're far from perfect in our ways you and I Yet we lived together in harmony for a while And could so again and we both know why I do my best to make you happy see you smile So please consider what I say very carefully Always kiss me goodnight, never say goodbye. ----- Love Lingers Italian Octave Sicilian Sestet The piper plays, then each part allots He lingers but not reluctantly so It is free to you and I, to come and go In staying back we're tied in tender knots. Feeling trembles when we kiss this way Music has stirred the feeling in our breast And tender touching does all the rest With looks that bid each other to stay. Now time and tide has done its worst And youth and looks are left behind. The piper on occasion gives a burst, Then less Youthful figures soon find, Someone to love and sate their thirst Someone of a more similar mind. ----- Values Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet I watch the white whispy clouds slowly appear There is no promise of even one damp drop. Of the promised thunderstorm, there is no fear Give me one reason why I would wish to stop The miracle happens, that would bring such cheer But once again the forecasters have made a flop And the promised storm has ended in nought Exactly as all the cynics thought. Too little, too often we are promised some rains With dams that are low and rivers gone dry But never the right places only down city drains The politicians bullshit, then spin another lie Using committees instead of using their brains As all over, we watch good farmlands die. ----- Xtremes Italian Octave and Sestet Oh Love, doest thou know thy brother Hate? Nay! Please realise that he remembers thee; For no matter how ignorant thou dost be, His knowledge of thee could never dissipate. And shouldst thou seek, perchance, to expiate, Or wish to make amends for past inclemency Whilst thou art modest, forgiving in thy decency He was never ever known to mitigate. For in thy answer "Learn to turn the other cheek" How can you love someone who has hurt again? Not to hate would seem by some to be weak And so why then is it wrong to hide the pain? Sometimes it is that action that the weakest seek When to walk away completely would be the gain.. ----- Zenith Italian Octave and Sicilian Sestet A perfume splash on ivory mounds, Or between, or there, where blush wine And colours melt swirling shapes divine, Creating heartbeats and throbbing pounds. Thighs brush, whispers, a deeper voice Stockings discard, and scented winds drift Across shimmering pools, in passioned shift Moon glow colours become the loving choice. Feather breath warmth, with voiceless words Promising eyes, soft with loves surrender, Tongues tickle belly sides, with soft spoke tips Spoken by those eyes with shining chords Softly a lovers hand slowly tiptoeing there, Until final mews of pleasure from those lips. back to list |
Leny RooversSicilian Octave and Sestet As thought-ships drift across the sea of mind, I watch white clouds stretch out like curling waves. Row after row of heaven's surf that crave their peaceful shore, leave heaving storms behind. Strong winds have blown most tall-ships far apart- celestial fleet dispersed in thin white lines, now drawing light and graceful, floating signs on sky's blue canvas, always changing chart. I see how gulls are soaring on air's streams, my heart flies with them, rising to far spheres; it travels ever higher on sun's beams- light's stairway to your shrine that I revere. My soul traverses oceans in my dreams, with birds and thought-ships, clouds that volunteer. -----  Harmony Sicilian Octave and Sestet When silence reigns once more within my mind, I lay down chaos' burdens at your feet and lift my head as souls prepare to meet- our hearts are reaching out, in song entwined. A bridge of hope spans continents of time, it shows a choice of not yet traveled ways- some are still dark, while others are ablaze and beckoning to take the upward climb. I take your offered hand as we proceed, my footsteps fall in rhythm with heart's song; vibrations harmonize in bodies keyed, enfolded in your love, I can't go wrong. We walk the path of life with steady speed, enjoying each new view that comes along. ----- Hidden Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet Still hidden in the womb of time to be, our future grows from seed, sown in the past; received in fertile soil, it might set free two souls that have been bound by love to last. Within my cells I feel my heart's strong plea to bear the fruits of waiting, long amassed. Life after life we met in Fate's own play, can we consume this time our love's cache? Inside, soft voices whisper to have trust, preparing stretching tissues to give birth, so once again hearts feel the upward thrust and souls grow wings, escaping from the earth. They leave behind old bonds of stifling dust, while being filled with harmony and mirth. ----- Inside the Mirror Italian Octave and Sestet Inside my mirrored eyes I see your face reflected in the windows of my soul. Your gentle smile can keep me in control- my body longs to feel your warm embrace. In mirror's depth our fingers interlace, when eyes and bodies lock, we share one goal; apart, we're less than half, together whole. Our stubborn love refused to be erased. You've been a part of me since time began, no matter how we're tested, love stays strong. I can't regret the pain that made me grow, as I can see the outlines of life's plan. Eventually we'll be where we belong, then eyes and heavens all will be aglow. ----- Loving You Sicilian Octave and Sestet You are my rainbow when the skies are gray, the smile in people's eyes on each new meet; you're in the song of birds at dawn's first tweet and in my every prayer throughout each day. I feel your touch in autumn sun's sweet kiss, your taste still lingers in my favourite wine- in strong black coffee I cannot decline. You're in my quickened heartbeat as you call, I feel your lips brush mine before I sleep; and when the sky turns red at evening's fall, I see your face among the stars' bright sweep. At night you draw me close, keep me enthralled, I listen to your heartbeat, strong and deep. -----  Mindscapes Sicilian Octave and Sestet I watch my mind shift thought-ships into sheep, in countless flocks they crowd green mental hills. An ever-moving body, never still, prevents my soul to come to you in sleep. Imprisoned by soft woolly shapes, I stand, unable to step forward in my dreams; in this world in-between, silence redeems, but I can't reach your peaceful, promised land. I hear dogs bark as sheep start to disperse- the shepherd of my mind has come to aid; his whistle turns the herd into reverse while shelties gather strays into the glade. In this recaptured freedom I traverse the meadows of my mind- now tranquil, staid. ----- Night's Peace Sicilian Octave and Italian Sestet Four bright-eyed pointed faces look at me with eyes that range from blue to yellow, green; their message is one I have often seen: it's after six and dinner-time, agree? I can't refuse this plea, delay my tea, obeying their twice-daily meal routine- each gets its preferred plate, the elder three have fish or soft food, while the youngest queen eats biscuits, with some cat-milk on the side. When after dinner, each has washed its face, they join me on the lounge to watch the news, three left and right, one near my head, astride. Inside, a purring concert's taking place, outside, the evening sky wears crimson hues. -----  Silence Ottava Rima and Sicilian Sestet Inside my mirrored eyes I see your face reflected in the windows of my soul. Your gentle smile can keep me in control- my body longs to feel your warm embrace. In mirror's depth our fingers interlace, when eyes and bodies lock, we share one goal; apart, we're less than half, together whole. Our stubborn love refused to be erased. You've been a part of me since time began, no matter how we're tested, love stays strong. I can't regret the pain that made me grow, as I can see the outlines of life's plan. Eventually we'll be where we belong, then eyes and heavens all will be aglow. ----- Transformation Italian Octave and Sicilian Sestet Outside, tall poplar trees are shivering, half naked in their dress of threadbare leaves; as breath of autumn whispers through thin sleeves, I see bare arms and fingers quivering. Soon, cold winter's touch will be delivering white, icy frocks, their cover will relieve my unprotected poplar trees that grieve and weave under harsh wind's administering. Yet, deep within each tree new life is formed, from each now naked finger buds will grow that after winter's devastating storms will burst and sprout in spring's abundant show. In time, both trees and people will transform, shake off old clothes and bend with life's own flow. ----- Unforgettable Italian Octave and Sicilian Sestet My facial muscles quiver in quick mirth, each time your thought-ships float into my sight; from every sail your eyes shine down delight, your lips are blowing kisses to the earth. I listen to the wind and hear your name; as autumn's sun brings back your warm embrace, the mirror of my thoughts reflects your face- I'll save it in my heart, in love enframed. Love can't be measured with a scale or cord, it can't be held in bottles or in tins, nor can it be forgotten or ignored. Love paints a shining glow on lovers' skins, puts starlight in their eyes, to be adored, it encompasses all and forgives sins. back to list |
Nia WynneItalian Octave and Sestet Where is the pen that wrests from me my heart? So comes this fear that takes away all hopes, Takes the lines, the muse, I just mope. There is the pen in the trash, no more art To adorn my hands, no more pot To clean the ink stains of life, to help cope, Merely muddy waters make thoughts all taupe, Rivers of fears can't wash away the hurt. Splattered across a mauve'd sky, apart From all clouds and dust are wishes motes That tarnish dead dreams and many more, such As fate or destinies chaos, and ports Where ancient ships sail through memories cove Painting the seas by their blacken'd touch. ----- Letting Go Italian Octave and Sestet A slivered moon hangs in dusky blue sky Straight beside a beautiful evening star. Like friend ships floating loves afar, Cloudless expanse above me reminds why And how we travel time, though we die, The cosmos carries on, love tarries far Through an era or an eon; we are Here and gone tomorrow, hoping to fly. Should we conquer chaos, should we then try Also to control fate destinies war, With robot like precision of all acts? Mortal though we be, we all seek to spy Through the motes of wishes and free each bar With the keys of gods... we deny the facts. back to list |
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