a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets”: №131
Ordinarily I don’t publish so much poetry at Theoria-press, and instead try to provide mostly essays with an odd poem or sonnet occasionally interspersed among them. But the Muse’s visits have outstripped my ability to keep pace with prose pieces so readers who prefer essays should peruse the archives of this site, which are replete with them. Also, I should acknowledge that the formal aspect of this “Petrarchan sonnet” is liberally conceived so it’s unnecessary to alert me that at “Petrarchan sonnet” with 19 lines and an unorthodox rhyme-scheme is like a quartet with 6 members, though reproof is always welcome from anyone who feels so moved.
YOUR YOKE is heavy and your burden too
your load you bear upon a stiffened back
your worried heart you carry in a sack
no helping hand arrives as aid to you
alone you labour in the things you do
the respite that you ever seek you lack
for circumstance has bound you on its rack
and day by day the world turns the screw
the rabble jeer at me and strike me too
but when I’m struck I never strike them back
instead I merely turn the other cheek
they bind my wrists and then my garments part
and never through it all a word I speak
for every deed here bears a counterpart
in that kingdom through whose shining gates they peek
who have attained to purity of heart
the ignorant believe that I am weak
whereas my power is of different art
that shall be found by those who truly seek
Humbled. Thank you Max
This one I really like because it is more with what I seem to be dealing with if you know what I mean…. I am past all the romance and poems of people in love and now just sort of toiling towards the end. If we likened our journey here to a marathon ( and I like that better than a race cause a race makes you think of only one winner ) but a marathon is much more grueling and in my early years I did run marathons. I would train everyday in every way watch what I ate get good sleep stretch etc and my first marathon was in my home town so I ran the whole course twice so I knew I could do it before the actual day. The knowledge that it is do -able is a great encouragement cause towards then end no matter how many you run there’s that thought - I can’t do it. Why do I even want to? This is just too hard? I think our journey here is a lot like that towards the end we are just plain tired and sort of want it to just be over, all our efforts seem to have come to nothing except wrinkles. You sure can’t take any riches with you even if you have them they are worth nothing in Eternity. It is only our pure soul and desire for God or like the very beginning - the joy of running, or the desire to seek God! Have a great day my friend. I have kept that joy in my heart and more than anything I want to see God.