Rallentanda

Rallentanda

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Shakespearean Sonnet

Napowrimo poem Day 22

Persephone

Wreathed by flowered garlands she danced
in the sunshine excelling in seamless grace
admired by swains her lithe movements enhanced
by flowing coiled ringlets gold and fair faced
delicacy driving mere mortals to distraction
beauteous eyes that could pierce a milk white heart
turning it to a purple wound in arrow action
by a cherub cupid's bow drawn and poised in art

Suddenly a slate hue dulled the sky the earth rumbled
tore and split, a black hand pulled her down
to darkness and the underworld in rolling tumble
no birdsong inhabits this realm only moan and frown
she ate the pomegranate seeds thinking it was kindness
not knowing that she had sealed her fate with blindness
Posted by at

14 comments:

  1. MarianneApril 22, 2010 at 5:25 AM

    A vibrant little sonnet, Rall ... did you really post this at 3:34 am?

    ReplyDelete
  2. rallentandaApril 22, 2010 at 5:55 AM

    I wrote this last year. Time difference is almost a day ahead of you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownApril 22, 2010 at 6:38 AM

    I'm sure Will appreciates this birthday offering, Rall. If only I could get the hang of these!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 22, 2010 at 7:07 AM

    I especially liked the first half of the sonnet. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 22, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    From Therese B -- It's also an appropriate poem for Earth Day, April 22! I love poems about Persephone. Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousApril 22, 2010 at 9:23 AM

    Amazingly done! I love the myth of Persephone. <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. lucychiliApril 22, 2010 at 11:25 AM

    she gets to ride the sky for 6 months a year
    but has to wear stockings
    i think it is an interesting tale too =)

    ReplyDelete
  8. flaubertApril 22, 2010 at 11:41 AM

    Rall,
    A beautiful sonnet.
    Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  9. rallentandaApril 22, 2010 at 5:24 PM

    Only in SA Miss Chilli!

    ReplyDelete
  10. JamesApril 22, 2010 at 5:40 PM

    Nicely done; this is a pleasure to read and a fine verse retelling of Persephone's story.

    ReplyDelete
  11. RobinApril 22, 2010 at 7:03 PM

    Wow--that was amazing! Love: "pierce a milk white heart turning it to a purple wound" and

    "no birdsong ...only moan and frown
    she ate the pomegranate seeds thinking it was kindness not knowing that she had sealed her fate with blindness."

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 22, 2010 at 7:40 PM

    Splendid language and telling of the myth... glad to see some Shakespeare-worship as well. ;) (I'm saving my sonnets for the 26th!)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wayne PitchkoApril 22, 2010 at 8:53 PM

    dam thats well written...I am so blown away by all the well written poems here....nicely done

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 23, 2010 at 8:11 AM

    Oh, a well-executed and gorgeous sonnet!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)