Sonnet
Oh for a poet—for a beacon bright
To rift this changless glimmer of dead gray;
To spirit back the Muses, long astray,
And flush Parnassus with a newer light;
To put these little sonnet-men to flight
Who fashion, in a shrewd mechanic way,
Songs without souls, that flicker for a day,
To vanish in irrevocable night.
What does it mean, this barren age of ours?
Here are the men, the women, and the flowers,
The seasons, and the sunset, as before.
What does it mean? Shall there not one arise
To wrench one banner from the western skies,
And mark it with his name forevermore?
poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson
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Related quotes
In Praise of a Sonnet
(this is not a true sonnet)
A sonnet, in classical form a charm
soft as sun dawn, it wakens spirit love
calling you, wanting you, it takes your arm
and whisks you away on wings of a dove.
There it holds you with its perfect meter
lullabying with it’s iambic tone.
Nothing does compare or could be sweeter
than the dance of love as poets have shown.
So take my hand and let us dance today
with these magic words penned so long ago.
We shall taste them, taste them without delay,
so succulent it makes our souls to glow.
A sonnet, lovingly given… hold tight
As dawn’s first light makes your spirit take flight.
The light
Come bright sun
like a beacon from the sky
give warmth to plants and flowers,
give light to the night that stretches out,
gather drops from the earth
to the pool up high.
Come bright sun
like a sign from above
give light to the depths
of darkness in my soul,
burst into every cell
in my body:
Be the lamp that points the way
to a soul that went astray.
poem by Gert Strydom
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Wife to Be (Petrarchan Sonnet)
I stroll along a fragrant country lane
With honeysuckle perfume on the air -
And feathered crooner's warble to revere -
Then cross a golden sea of flowing grain
In empathy - it seems to sense my pain
Of knowing all was done with my affair -
Her empty meaning now the solitaire
She cast away - betrothment all in vain.
But oceans team with many fish to catch
So I must up and hoist another sail
And seek the one that really waits for me,
For soon auspicious breezes will prevail
In guiding forth to find a truer match:
The one to take my hand as wife to be.
Copyright © Mark R Slaughter 2010
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poem by Mark R Slaughter
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I Am Not The Poet I Dreamed
I AM NOT THE POET I DREAMED
I am not the Poet I dreamed
I am the Poet I am
Whatever will be – will be
And the stars and the suns
And this world and all the others
Will shine and give light
Whether I glimmer or flicker
Or do not.
poem by Shalom Freedman
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Give Hope A Chance
Death, you have spent too long in the desert,
move away. Let kindly soothing winds wrap
gentle discourse around past pain and hurt
and mend the rift that tears the growing gap.
Dawn struggles over the harsh horizon.
Let it through, so it can gradu'lly fill
with warmth those souls whose thoughts and hearts harden
at any compromise or change of will.
Bear your banner towards the river Styx.
Gather two coins to pay the ferry man.
Weigh down your cutting scythe with heavy bricks.
Float upon the changing tide, leave this land.
Let Hope born by temperate wings arise
and fill with light, broken desert skies.
poem by Diana Rosser
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Blank Canvas
I often think the artist
Needs a vast blank canvas
I often feel the poet songs
Arise out of pure emotion
Loneliness, emptiness…
A void to be filled, transgressed.
But, what does it all say…?
On a personal, level
Anyway, about ink or oil…
Are their horizons, just?
Just as barren …as desert soil?
Hell no! Beauty is translucent.
'To a point…
But what could be more real'?
poem by Mark Heathcote
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Sail Away
Early in the day it was whispered that we should sail in a boat,
only thou and I, and never a soul in the world would know of this our
pilgrimage to no country and to no end.
In that shoreless ocean,
at thy silently listening smile my songs would swell in melodies,
free as waves, free from all bondage of words.
Is the time not come yet?
Are there works still to do?
Lo, the evening has come down upon the shore
and in the fading light the seabirds come flying to their nests.
Who knows when the chains will be off,
and the boat, like the last glimmer of sunset,
vanish into the night?
poem by Rabindranath Tagore
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Luke Havergal
Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal,
There where the vines cling crimson on the wall,
And in the twilight wait for what will come.
The leaves will whisper there of her, and some,
Like flying words, will strike you as they fall;
But go, and if you listen she will call.
Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal—
Luke Havergal.
No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies
To rift the fiery night that’s in your eyes;
But there, where western glooms are gathering,
The dark will end the dark, if anything:
God slays Himself with every leaf that flies,
And hell is more than half of paradise.
No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies—
In eastern skies.
Out of a grave I come to tell you this,
Out of a grave I come to quench the kiss
That flames upon your forehead with a glow
That blinds you to the way that you must go.
Yes, there is yet one way to where she is,
Bitter, but one that faith may never miss.
Out of a grave I come to tell you this—
To tell you this.
There is the western gate, Luke Havergal,
There are the crimson leaves upon the wall.
Go, for the winds are tearing them away,—
Nor think to riddle the dead words they say,
Nor any more to feel them as they fall;
But go, and if you trust her she will call.
There is the western gate, Luke Havergal—
Luke Havergal.
poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson from The Children of the Night (1897)
Submitted by anonym
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To Kathleen
Still must the poet as of old,
In barren attic bleak and cold,
Starve, freeze, and fashion verses to
Such things as flowers and song and you;
Still as of old his being give
In Beauty's name, while she may live,
Beauty that may not die as long
As there are flowers and you and song.
poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Kingsley starlight
O bright star; many a night has your light shineth
down upon my smiling and twinkling eyes
How hast thou broughteth me to lie upon
these green pastures while my mind seeketh
your truth. Whilst thou judge those who ignore such light
For their souls forever walketh in darkness
And may your light clense thy spirit and removeth
that which doth makes thou light flicker
And into thy mind poureth rememberance of thy light
Holdeth it in the cherished chambers of thy heart
Be gone with your beating for no candle can be
lit in thy shadow and no fire can burneth for thee
For thy mind be quick and thy heart be quicker
and thy soul beeth forever timeless for evermore
In the light of the new dawn I seeketh Truth
O bright star Layeth down for the night, Sleep Child
For your presence beeth true and you spirit
bringeth thy light of life into thy honoured heart
poem by Darryl McMillan
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Luke Havergal
Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal,
There where the vines cling crimson on the wall,
And in the twilight wait for what will come.
The leaves will whisper there of her, and some,
Like flying words, will strike you as they fall;
But go, and if you listen she will call.
Go to the western gate, Luke Havergal—
Luke Havergal.
No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies
To rift the fiery night that’s in your eyes;
But there, where western glooms are gathering,
The dark will end the dark, if anything:
God slays Himself with every leaf that flies,
And hell is more than half of paradise.
No, there is not a dawn in eastern skies—
In eastern skies.
Out of a grave I come to tell you this,
Out of a grave I come to quench the kiss
That flames upon your forehead with a glow
That blinds you to the way that you must go.
Yes, there is yet one way to where she is,
Bitter, but one that faith may never miss.
Out of a grave I come to tell you this—
To tell you this.
There is the western gate, Luke Havergal,
There are the crimson leaves upon the wall.
Go, for the winds are tearing them away,—
Nor think to riddle the dead words they say,
Nor any more to feel them as they fall;
But go, and if you trust her she will call.
There is the western gate, Luke Havergal—
Luke Havergal.
poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Ichabod
So fallen! so lost! the light withdrawn
Which once he wore!
The glory from his gray hairs gone
Forevermore!
Revile him not, the Tempter hath
A snare for all;
And pitying tears, not scorn and wrath,
Befit his fall!
Oh, dumb be passion's stormy rage,
When he who might
Have lighted up and led his age,
Falls back in night.
Scorn! would the angels laugh, to mark
A bright soul driven,
Fiend-goaded, down the endless dark,
From hope and heaven!
Let not the land once proud of him
Insult him now,
Nor brand with deeper shame his dim,
Dishonored brow.
But let its humbled sons, instead,
From sea to lake,
A long lament, as for the dead,
In sadness make.
Of all we loved and honored, naught
Save power remains;
A fallen angel's pride of thought,
Still strong in chains.
All else is gone; from those great eyes
The soul has fled:
When faith is lost, when honor dies,
The man is dead!
Then, pay the reverence of old days
To his dead fame;
Walk backward, with averted gaze,
And hide the shame!
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Sleeping And Waking
I Had a dream-I lay upon thy breast,
In that sweet place where we lay long ago:
I thought the morning woodbine to and fro
With playful shadows whipped away my rest,
And in my sleep I cried to thee, too blest,
'Rise, oh my love, the morning sun is bright,
Let us arise, oh love, let us arise;
The flowers awake, the lark is in the skies,
I will array myself in my delight,
And we will-' and I woke to death and night!
poem by Sydney Thompson Dobell
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When the Sun Set...
caught me in the dark sky and slave
me not my great light of illusion, where
the eyes had close and vanish in the
oblation of reality, amongst any other
men
wish my spirited soul and tied me up
in the journey without the flesh, for the
sunset nest behind, the glorious sky; as
the wind listens to the hymn of songs
to fly
oh! let the beloved deep sleep cry and
transverse in the melody of our blind
ears; to the rhythm of the notes that beats,
beyond the silent of the night;
you'll be blown by the wind and blind,
as you touch the spirit of the sun set,
you've cried
take the first journey and the songs to cry,
leaves you to capture the great night
of the sky …
poem by Antonio Liao
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Dusk to dawn
Dusk to dawn
The sunset sets the sky alight.
With flames if incandescent red
and nameless colours just as bright
The western skies gold burnish’ed.
The setting sun puts up a fight
but he is overpower 'ed
Must needs surrender to the night.
Reluctantly retire to bed
But come the morn he is reborn.
Refreshed he puts the night to flight.
Rising from pale pink clouds at dawn
He demonstrates his sovereign right
He knows by night the moon reflects
his burning rays as he expects.
16-Sep-08
Http: // blog.my space.com/ poeticpiers
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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You Sing So Sweetly, Star Of Eventide
Sonnet (II) to Joe McElderry
In days of trouble, when no even keel
Presents itself on the rocky barque of life,
Events can press so hard, that I do feel
That only Sleep will free me from the strife.
Then on the horizon of my poor world
I see the glimmer of a saviour’s light,
As darkness’ gentle banner is unfurled
And from the scorching sun I find respite.
You sing so sweetly, star of eventide,
Cradling with heaven’s care my spirit burned
By this cruel day, which left no place to hide
In mundane deserts of emotions spurned.
The heedless glare of morning did me wrong,
Now you, night’s hero, do me right, in song.
poem by Christopher McInnes
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The night runs in fear of the dreamer
The night runs in fear of the dreamer
The night runs in fear of the dreamer
As for he there is no night.
For even though there is darkness in abundance
He only need close his eyes to see there is light.
God deems all darkness be made light!
Such is why ebony skies are singularly bright
Brightly, dotted; with orbs so bright.
For the dreamers hope, is a candle wick?
That stretches from here to eternity…
All he but do is ignite its vaporous spirit.
And, be guided by its flickering fight…
For he that adjourns in his own shadow
Will have nowhere to go, when he spurns
What the daylight; can no longer anymore follow.
God made a scented garden and gave all men
Their seven senses to follow in this his trail.
So that even if one or more senses be lost
The spirit of the lamb would still be
Guided by gods external; light within.
poem by Mark Heathcote
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Sonnet: My Poetic Evolution
From simple Rhymes that Kinder-gardens teach,
And little songs that children love to sing,
I worked my way, up to what Poets reach,
And tried to soar the Skies with my own Wing!
And then I came to know what metre was;
And Rhythm melody of words and sounds;
And soon I was some kind of Poetic-Boss;
And tried my skill of words in newer grounds!
The old was gold but people wanted new;
I had to write 'free verses' now and then;
My Sonnets sprung with speed and divine hue;
My Wings were strong enough to reach Heaven!
Believe-it-or-not, I'm World's Sonnet-King!
Each Sonnet was just a ten- minute thing!
poem by John Celes
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By Night The muses told me.
By night the muses snatched me away, in to their
loveliest
Abode where the gods grow fond of. But poor I am in word to describe
The heavenly refinement of this humble paradise.
Laying me helplessly on this sour grass and looking into the early skies as a lover
On the tour of painful love and yet whispering in my ears as my ears quiver for answers
My dear poet the fairest of them all, whose heart is as loveliest as a thousand bouquets of roses laid by the lover's bed.
Grow within your thought the learning of love and let the world be indeed a beautiful place for you.
Though I do not challenge your words great muses, whose radiate skin bring light in darkness, whose word flow from your mouth as you were present when the world came to being, my great and wonderful muses, whose song feels the heart of the faint lover and bring to tame the proudest heart of the lion on a mid day hunt.
Your beauty I as a mortal i dare not compare any beauty with.
How should I love, how should I give my heart and not get pain in return,
You trained my heart and though I am weak, spirit me away in to your humble blossom
And let me rest my head on your golden lap.
For my lips are so moisten with words from my heart, I am not in control of my self.
If I, a lover of a thousand women, how then should I, a god like me
In mortal flesh prevent my pleasures for over taking me.
Hence my muse answered,
my dear poet and god, who I bestow my graces upon, who
Are the hands I write my songs and poem with, do no despair, write what ever I tell you through your heart and understand my plight, but if still you do not comprehend go and listen to my dear god Ovid, it was him Venus thought the art of love
But oh my dear lord and love muses, your words grace my heart, but my mind is not at peace
Ovid my great and wonderful love teacher, who none compares not even Shakespeare with his renown wits and words' sit with open eyes and heart applaud when he delivers the speech of love. But still I am a lover of thousand women.
My dearest, whom I endowed with the riches of words, hear me, your heart though full of wonder love, it is with it I deliver the power of love through, learn to live with it my young poet.
Tell the loveliest women how you feel and if she does not comprehend, craft them into words on paper, go my young poet and tell the ladies of the world through your words how elegant they seem in there natural beauty, how beauty grows and fade. Tell them to grace there appearance with inner beauty for the goddess and muses shall be with you.
You are my handy work, the man of a thousand lover, forgive cupid for his jealous looks my dear poet live and enjoy your fruitful days as young, soon old age comes fleeting in a chariot.
poem by Samuel Donkor
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To Night
Swiftly walk o'er the western wave,
Spirit of Night!
Out of the misty eastern cave,
Where, all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,
Which make thee terrible and dear--
Swift be thy flight!
Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,
Star-inwrought!
Blind with thine hair the eyes of day;
Kiss her until she be wearied out,
Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,
Touching all with thine opiate wand--
Come, long-sought!
When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sighed for thee;
When light rode high, and the dew was gone,
And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,
And the weary day turned to his rest,
Lingering like an unloved guest,
I sighed for thee.
Thy brother Death came, and cried,
Wouldst thou me?
Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me?--And I replied,
No, not thee!
Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon--
Sleep will come when thou art fled;
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, beloved Night--
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!
poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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