Here's one of my Lenten sonnets. This will give you an idea of the format I have in mind. In this instance, the response comes from C.S. Lewis.
"But now what had been an ideal became a command; and what might not be expected of one? Doubtless, by definition, God was Reason itself. But would He also be "reasonable" in that other, more comfortable, sense? Not the slightest assurance on that score was offered me. Total surrender, the absolute leap in the dark, were demanded. The reality with which no treaty can be made was upon me [...] In the Trinity Term of 1929, I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed..."
C.S. Lewis
Surprised by Joy
Pride disavows surrender so complete.
Without dialogue, how can I proceed?
Some manifest rights must be guaranteed,
Arrangements made to forestall this retreat.
Damascus roads, with history replete,
Still threaten me with God's perduring greed
For souls resisting His covenant deed -
No quarter given, no terms of defeat.
Retreat offends the privilege of youth
To laugh at time, negotiate truth.
Yet youth's inheritance is quickly spent,
A choice appears then: submit or dissent.
This Oxford prig came finally to see
Man's only treaty is a bended knee.
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1 comment:
Very nice, Tom! Again, I'll leave it to you referees of poetic form to decide if this meets all legal requirements of sonnetry.
Initial thoughts - perduring is a stumbler, but, as we discussed, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Retreat/treaty is interesting.
It's got a good beat and I can dance to it. Well done, Tom.
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