a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets”: №103

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

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NEW moments spring up in the womb of time 
leaves afresh upon the World Tree unfold 
unfurling banners, little scrolls unrolled 
as floods of sap into the branches climb 
to be impressed by stars and cosmic paradigms 
stamped with seal and signet wrought in gold 
of sunlight as the ancients have foretold 
conveyed at times in meter or in rhyme 
that forever born be the eternal Word 
in history, as Gabriel hath said 
in the Annunciation that was heard 
by Mary, who hath tears of gladness shed 
for that she by Heaven was preferred 
eternity with time forever wed 
I know that this will sound absurd 
but gods need not have left their bed 
drink sweet nectars, feed on angelic curd 
in timeless bliss, no past, nothing ahead—
yet as leaven works to swell a lump of bread 
and action by some cause or will is spurred 
so God conceives himself in time instead

Photo by Natalie Pasko🇺🇦 on Unsplash