a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets” (42)

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 16 lines is like a quartet with 5 members, though criticism and rebuke is always welcome from anyone who feels so moved.

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I SAW the rains descend upon the land
the waters rise and overflow their bounds
heard branches on the roofs and windows pound
wielded by winds that bear as arms in hand
these rods the airy spirits to command
ravenous gusts, devouring every sound,
and in the torrents hope itself was drowned
for my own house was built upon the sand
and so was by the waters swept away—
but then the clouds began to rise and part
lifted by the angel of the day
which did these words unto my soul impart
“to gain the world, first give the world away”
and so upon the tables of my heart
I inscribed the phrase that he did say
and now I see that from the very start
the wrath of God has led me on my way

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