One More Sonnet

Category: People

  • Statues

    Statues

    Two trees, two statues, and me,
    For a moment we shared the same space,
    Each of us, in a garden gallery,
    Poised, for art sake, in the same place.
    I entered this garden with a foreigner’s eye,
    I was in this garden, but not part of it,
    I took to this garden a sense of I
    And with this eye, I’d never see the heart of it.
    I turned to leave, but as I did,
    As a statue does, I froze,
    It was then that I became the garden, so amid,
    And among, at once… I saw what was.
    .   A sculptured garden submits to control
    .   Yet, a sculpture garden has heart and soul.

    © Tim Grace, 3 November 2010

    To the reader: An outdoor art space – a garden gallery. A recent creation without the presence of rustic age. Bronze statues are anchored to the lawn, too carefully placed in position; posed not poised. The landscaping is suburban, the lawns manicured and the shrubs neatly trimmed. Without context the statues, like me, are foreigners to this garden. We search for meaning and find it in our common sense of separation. We too are one.

    To the poet: In this sonnet there’s a growing sense of self in place, and a conscious positioning of ‘I’ as myself. The poem begins with a lock-step description of separate entities; emphasising awkward placement. The middle segment identifies myself as a poignant feature of the gallery. With static placement, I become another statue, and from that vantage point can bring heart and soul to its overall composition.

     

    statues
    statues

     

  • Chocolate Swirl

    Chocolate Swirl

    A chocolate swirl melts into self,
    Folds into resolution.
    Self-absorbed, it finds relief,
    And holds its constitution.
    Fluid, liquid, but hardly wet,
    With creamy distribution,
    Its cast is not yet set…
    No final execution.
    There’s a shimmer to its surface,
    A sugar sweet solution,
    A chocolate heart, a chocolate kiss,
    A lover’s institution.
    . A soft-centred lover, indulgent to the core,
    . A chocolate coated message, too delicious to ignore.

    © Tim Grace, 3 November 2010

    To the reader: The taste and texture of chocolate is its combined attraction. It’s a substance that is responsive to environment – hard and cold can’t resist a soft and warm touch. At that melting moment sensations collide; there’s a clash of riches: smooth dark and sweet. Chocolate is a substance with substance; a substantial treat, and a lover’s gift.

    To the poet: The ‘self’ absorbed nature of chocolate suggests gentle animation; viscous definition. The melting moment is enhanced by rounded sounds that fold together without the disruption of angular or edgy observation. The linking of love and chocolate is left to late in the sonnet … there’s a shimmer to its surface.

     

     

    chocolate swirl chocolate swirl

     

  • Inner Scream

    Inner Scream

    Be conscious of the inner scream,
    The little voice you hear.
    Listen to the subtle theme,
    That’s worried to appear.
    Sometimes it’s not the brightest beam,
    That should earn the right to steer.
    Let go, release, all things extreme,
    Their effect is too severe.
    Question what at first might seem,
    A line of vision clear.
    For broken is the cunning scheme,
    That shrouds what should be sheer.
    . Do not depend upon the light of day,
    . As with a fickle friend… it fades away.

    © Tim Grace, 2 November 2010

     

    To the reader: We all have niggling doubts, small worries, that attach themselves to passing thoughts. Some doubts, on a hunch, rise to consciousness and become inklings. We worry about doubts but act upon inklings. Inklings deserve attention. In seeking out a solution it’s to inklings, not doubts, that we should look. From an inkling comes the moment of revelation; the hunch was worth pursuing.

    To the poet: The rhyming pattern of this sonnet is a simple a-b-a-b; except for the final couplet. To achieve some listening interest, the repetitive pattern at the end of each pair of lines requires an alternative reading rhythm. Conveniently, there’s a contrast of one and two syllabic words that bounce at the beginning and end of most lines. With no words having more than two syllables there’s a short beat that wants to quicken the accent on each doubled-over sound.

     

    inner scream
    inner scream
  • Play’s the thing

    Play’s the thing

    How do kids learn something new?
    They work with what they know.
    When novelty is theirs to view,
    It’s then their interests glow.
    For every child a different flame,
    From different sparks ignited,
    When play’s the thing, work’s a game,
    And kids will get excited.
    So fire them up with hot debate,
    Challenge them to think,
    Just enough to incubate,
    Knowledge at its brink…
    . Turn up the temperature; things will churn,
    . It’s steam, not water, makes the wheels turn.

    © Tim Grace, 30 October 2010

    To the reader: Curiosity generates children’s engagement in learning. Harnessing curiosity, shaping it, to meet the needs of education is a challenging task. Playfulness is an indicator of success. Curious children at play, solving open ended problems, is better still. When children learn to direct their playful minds towards solving real world problems then the sandpit has done its job. Schools, the sandpits of learning, need to be alive with meaning and challenge … gritty and real.

    To the poet: When framed as a question curiosity is channelled towards a conclusion. At the head of this sonnet is a simply stated question; one that invites the unpacking of what the poet knows about how kids learn. If there’s a message, it’s that learning needs a furnace, a source of heat that challenges children; fires them up to respond with new and creative thinking. The poem is therefore sprinkled with references to heat and light.

     

    play's the thing play’s the thing

     

  • Elegant Solution

    Elegant Solution

    In search of a strategy,
    A maneuver that’s adept,
    With an obvious analogy,
    That others will accept.
    An elegant solution,
    With a simple line of sight,
    A corporate contribution:
    That’s logical and bright,
    That’s possible; sensible,
    That’s ethical and good,
    That’s plausible, defensible,
    And easily understood.
    . A nifty, thrifty, plan of course,
    . A steady, ready, driving force.

    © Tim Grace, 28 October 2010

    To the reader: It’s the obvious that speaks most convincingly for it holds true what is familiar and evident. Unfortunately, the obvious truth all too soon becomes mundane and therefore tires of enthusiasm to drive new change. It takes a brave soul to suggest the obvious, however true; hardly the suff of enterprise and innovation; best not without good reason. Unless, that is, a fresh view of the obvious is drawn and gives rise to “why didn’t I think of that?”

    To the poet: It was important that this poem did nothing too strenuous. Its success relies upon a simple presentation of obvious poetic solutions; very predictable, very familiar. It was also important that having posed the issue as a strategic search for a plan it did nothing to deliver the proposition or deliver a plan. The search was seeking a strategy not an answer.

     

    elegant solution elegant solution

     

  • A Dog Might Be

    A Dog Might Be

    Man’s best friend, a dog might be,
    he dotes with admiration.
    But regardless of his pedigree
    he causes consternation.
    Dress him up from top to tail,
    shine his coat and collar.
    But, what’s the bet that without fail,
    he’ll lead you in to squaller.
    Take him out to the finest park,
    frequented there by poodles,
    and off his lead, he’ll beg and bark,
    and steal the apple strudels.
    . Beware the dog that trains his master,
    . it won’t be long before disaster!

    © Tim Grace, 24 November 2010

    To the reader: Fallibility. Temptation outsmarts the wisest of dogs. Despite training, when off the leash, a dog will revert to its natural instinct. Dogs are territorial so they will be protective of their patch; they’ll take every opportunity to mark out ground. Dogs are pack animals so they will be selective in who they like and dislike. As protective and selective beasts dogs are prone to social error: faithful but not always dependable.

    To the poet: A light-hearted observation is good for breaking tension. The poetics of this sonnet flow freely. The words are on a long leash and the poet’s in control. The notion of ‘obedience’ is never stated but the poem’s structure is doing what’s expected. The poem is designed to be faithful to its master; true to its message… obedient.

    a dog might be a dog might be