Half In Shadow // Petrarchan Sonnet
Half In Shadow
Whose house is in the distance no one knows;
as daylight slips below the shadowed hill
these pines in part shall stand as time stood still
as light’s resolve becomes subdued and slows.
And here I stand inside what breath bestows
amid this half repose that can’t instill
what fuller heart endows upon the will—
to grasp the fading glow that briskly goes.
The dusk fulfills the slipping length of day
as it encroaches on that farther rest
where house still stands inside brighter field
with gleaming sunbeam. There the dark will lay
its gentle dreams beneath the night undressed
to show what’s held half-in— to be revealed
© /RH Peat 12/31/2011 7:31am
Form: Petrarchan Sonnet. Iambic pentameter
Rhyme scheme: abbaabba cdecde 14 lines
Ekphasis: “Hillsshadow” Pin hole photo by Nick Dvoracek.
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/73648543@N00/5198564332/in/photostream//
Rich sonnet with image very clear to dream about!
Beautiful imageries in this well composed sonnet, Ron
Ron this is a really beautiful sonnet.... I could imagine the house and place where it stands....I hope that I can one day write a decent sonnet...
Thanks Ron for sharing ! I had completed reading the history of Sonnets last month to include some portions in my English Story -'Post Chaucer upto Edmund Spencer', to be posted by this weekend . Do make time to read the same later ! Happy New Year ! -Raj
The Petrarchan sonnet is a verse form that typically refers to a concept of unattainable love. (Francesco Petrarca, the Italian sonnet). Conventionally these sonnets depict the addressed lady in hyperbolic terms, present her as a model of perfection and inspiration. Often used in reference to romantic literature (e.g. analysis W. Shakespeare.) Because of the structure of Italian, the rhyme scheme of the Petrarchan sonnet is more easily fulfilled in that language than in English. The poem consists of two parts, the first an octave and the second part a sestet. Since the petrarchan sonnet is more difficult in English than in Italian, when we think of the rhyme scheme, you have taken a heavy burden as your task, Ron. My deep respect for your choice! No photo or image here as suggested. I love photos/ images/picts. Best wishes, Sylvia Frances Chan.
Images suggest house may be metaphor for mystery of poetic or artistic creation? If it's just a house it works too.
Delicate images that play with the poetic mind , they stimulate, titillate and pull the imaginitive strings to create a soft muse . Yes no one knows the house that lies in the distance , where pines stand tall and wind blows free. I like the thought of dusk fulfilling the slipping length of the day , this is truly spiritual and divine.the dark's dream laid beneath the night , half held , half revealed. The poem is a soft whirlpool that does me in .
Another lesson in loveliness! Dorothy A Poet Who Loves To Sing
well crafted beautiful work, Cat
Beautiful words... Poem is like a fresh sip of quenching water, without it I shall wither and die!