a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets” (37)

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 7 lines and an unorthodox rhyme-scheme is like a quartet with 6 members, though criticism and rebuke is always welcome from anyone who feels so moved.

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BEHOLD the Sun now seeks to flee
and leave behind no trace to light the eye
and darkness covers up the morning sky
marauding shadows run about voraciously
devouring all the forms the eye can see
the liturgy of daytime to defy
the ninth hour breaks, and lo! that telltale cry
Eli, eli, lama sabachthani
wherefore oh LORD has thou me forsaken?
wherefore hast thou withdrawn thyself away?
the spring of life I knew is taken
while demons dirges on my heartstrings play
but what without withdraws, within awakens
as light flames forth within to light my way
God gives himself in faith that can’t be shaken
and most of all when he withdraws away
comes by going and by leaving he will stay

Photo by Jan Haerer on Unsplash