a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets”: №160
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 and an unorthodox rhyme-scheme is like a quartet with 5 members, though reproof is always welcome from anyone who feels so moved.
I’VE SEEN the gods their promises betray as tongues recoil at the taste of gall and Winter’s contact makes the leaves to fall the touch of darkness drives our hopes away we scarce can recollect the light of day when veils of shadow stretch out like a pall and cords of blindness bind our eyes in thrall as through it all we strive to make our way the only light we find is in our dreams for it has fled from life for all my sinning and yet a power in the darkness gleams: the mighty hand that sets the worlds spinning while threads in stitches bind our lives with seams, they’re bursting everywhere with new beginnings and hope that broken promises redeems
