One More Sonnet

Tag: sonnets

  • List of Wisdoms

    List of Wisdoms

    Firstly, I read the desiderata:
    “Go placidly amidst the noise and haste.”
    Gave myself approval (imprimatur)
    to make my list of lists. To cut and paste
    my chart of wisdoms; distilled of strife,
    refined, reduced to an essence of truth:
    – Experience is the practice of life.
    – One must have the grace to surrender youth.
    So on, the list progressed … dot after dot:
    – To enjoy time’s passage, go with the flow.
    – To know who you are, don’t be who you’re not.
    – The more you think you know, the less you know.
    . Wisdom is suggestive, best known by gist.
    . Wisdom is illusive, shy to enlist.

    © Tim Grace, 21 April 2014

    To the reader: The reduction of wisdom, to a list of truisms, is an attractive contemplation that leads to a refined sample of ‘best of’ behaviours. The first few, often confirm acts of social responsibility; sealing the contract between oneself and others. These ‘responsibilities’ are soon followed by the ‘accountabilities’ that establish (as good) generous reciprocity. And so it seems, the wise respond to needs, they take account of wants; and most of all, they share the benefits – in the interest of common wealth.

    To the poet: Around this period of writing, I was also retiring from thirty-years of career building. Not surprisingly, events were associated with a strong-tinge of reflection on change over time; and lessons learnt. The economical nature of phrasing a line of poetry is similar to the construction of a truism… the verb and its subject make obvious associations with a familiar object – in the interest of common sense.

    List of Wisdoms
    List of Wisdoms
    Picture Source:
    http://s1.dmcdn.net/BCwjG/1280×720-5Zh.jpg
  • True to word

    True to word

    With my attention divided, I sit…
    Pen, poised above the page in readiness;
    hopeful of a script that would see it fit
    the purpose of a quill; and so, impress
    its thoughts upon a blank page. It hovers
    above the line with nothing yet to write;
    the grip of an unsteady hand bothers
    the nib; uncertainty – in pensive flight.
    In anticipation it contemplates
    the possibility of nothingness;
    a void in the universe that equates
    to unwritten principles – more or less.
    . True to word: a pen without instruction,
    . finds absurd the point of its production.

    © Tim Grace, 9 March 2014

    To the reader: The physical translation of my poetic thoughts onto paper is through a pen; obviously, a free-flowing versatile pen is preferred. It needs to be an ergonomic pen that sits comfortably in my hand; happy to be twiddled, over-worked and under-paid! All the better, if that pen is well-weighted; designed to manoeuvre and embellish as it imprints letter onto line.

    To the poet: Those fancy ostentatious pens that ooze with opulence are far too pretentious to be of any use in drafting. I’ve given them a try. Their notable features demand attention; they want to finish with a flourish and leave indelible marks. Signature pens are dressed for occasion; singular in purpose, unready for sustained action. As a medium, the perfect pen must neither interrupt nor distract from the creative process.

    True to Word True to Word
  • Slivered Light

    Slivered Light

    Nothing more than a glimpse of slivered light;
    delivered right of stage, left of centre.
    Just a hint, a glint, of something bright;
    so she came, just as light had sent her.
    She was not drawn from darkness, not from pitch;
    far more rich, she glowed with lumination.
    She posed no question, she required no switch;
    far from this, she shone with explanation.
    Not a candle, not a bulb, not a torch;
    too warm to scorch the scene with burning flames.
    She cast no shadow, nothing to debauch
    the instant truth that light so brightly claims.
    . With a light stroke, her presence was revealed.
    . She came complete, with nothing more to yield.

    © Tim Grace, 14 March 2014

    To the reader: Light’s revelation can slowly dawn to uncover what darkness hides. Vast horizons emerge as night becomes day. Light can also cast an instant beam of illumination. Delighting the eye with small surprises. In just a slivered glimpse, the eye captures a passing moment… a flash of brilliance. Within that slivered aperture is the essence of art’s sensuality… form is given shape.

    To the poet: Art is responsive. It can be reactionary in a spontaneous fashion; impromptu and unrehearsed. It can also be reflective in a mulled-over sense; practiced and refined. Mercurial-art is more likely to be associated with an artist’s unique character… a flash of brilliance. Lingering-art has time to contemplate and wonder; time to lose its originality … as form is given shape.

    Slivered Light
    Slivered Light
  • With Influence

    With Influence

    Communicates with influence; he does,
    he states it as it is – impressively.
    He situates a phrase; gives emphasis,
    he waits – delivers it expressively.
    He orchestrates his audience; at ease,
    he waits for sense and sensibility.
    He situates a pause; an awkward tease,
    he baits the line with sensitivity.
    He modulates his tone; to rise and fall,
    creates an uplifting draft – wafterly.
    He contemplates what might be possible;
    skates the surface, and nurtures novelty.
    . He agitates his company; he stirs,
    . he celebrates the mix – as it occurs.

    © Tim Grace, 13 February 2014

    To the reader: Tangles can be fun to unravel. I remember, as a child, finding balls of discarded fishing line on the beach. A mess of sand and tackle, endlessly wrapped in coils of knotted nylon thread. The business of unravelling had little purpose to it. I was learning that through frustration you could find satisfaction. Within most things we do, there’s an opportunity to play with ideas; to craft creative solutions – for pleasure’s sake alone.

    To the poet: It wasn’t until late in the editing process that I stumbled on why this sonnet was proving a stubborn beast to massage into shape. I’d forgotten that the “Oh, so clever poet!” had decided to apply an extra set of rhymes to the beginning of each line. Something he thought might have been fun to do but later regretted. Upon reflection the extra-effort has probably detracted from the final outcome; and so it is.

    With Influence
    With Influence
    Picture Source:
    http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/guest-diary/2013/liz-smith-history-at-its-most-monumental
  • And so become…

    And so become…

    Let go of your dependencies; let go.
    Let go of what has gone forever more.
    Cut free of insecurities; and so,
    lay claim to your capacities. Be sure
    that what you have, you have in all good faith;
    all good faith, that underwrites the absence
    of certainty. Believe in what you have.
    Believe in the goodness of good intents.
    Take hold of opportunities; take hold,
    take hold of that which offers more to come.
    Seize the moment; as the nettle. Be bold
    in your intent; for pluck outplays a strum.
    . Let go of insecurities; and so,
    . become an opportunity to grow.

    © Tim Grace, 26 January 2014

    To the reader: To be a free agent assumes a level of independence that few of us have license to acquit. Over time we accrue a host of responsibilities, dependencies and expectations that nail us to the floor. Up and leaving is not so easy. Before departing on a free-spirited journey there are things to do. Leaving behind a trail of unfinished business is hardly inviting a warm welcome upon your return. Sure, let go, but take good care … of things before you leave.

    To the poet: Strength of message can be bolted to a sonnet. In this free-flowing lecturette I’ve assembled a few commonly known phrases; then, replaced any expected conjunctive using a generous spray of repetition. The repeated elements, through the creation of emboldened space, establish room for emphasis. I’ve not repeated the message, simply repeated the pattern surrounding it.

    And so become ... And so become …
    Picture Source:
    http://youtu.be/jBN2_YuTclU
  • Nine Squares

    Nine Squares

    A window partitioned into nine squares.
    The top three frame the sky with loftiness.
    A summer-haze gives rise to grand affairs;
    a cathedral of blue with gold finesse.
    Three black umbrellas, from central casting,
    flank the populated panes; overhang
    a series of light lunches, short lasting
    courses: round plates, round tables; ying and yang.
    A long list of legs fill the bottom panes
    with passing trade; pedestrian traffic;
    litany of litter and gravy-stains;
    a base-load of footsteps; demographic.
    . Plain-glass windows with horizontal stretch.
    . Nine squares, three rows… a panoramic sketch.

    © Tim Grace, 21 January 2014

    To the reader: Window frames define space. Some selectively give border to a scene; while others set no limits to a vista. Either way, a sheet of squared glass delineates one view-point from another; inside from out; here from there. This invisible but very physical medium is a lens through which we look out upon a passing parade.

    To the poet: Another observational sonnet. In most cases, my poetic outlook is uninterrupted, I see through the structural frames of reference to focus on a scene of interest. In this case, I was obviously struck by the window’s pre-defined partition of the visual arrangement. One large window; a tessellation of space: nine squares, three rows … a panoramic sketch.

    Nine Squares Nine Squares