a certain indefinite number of Petrarchan “sonnets”: №177

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.

---

SEE WHEN THE EARTH, caressed by rising Sun,
begins to whirl like Sufi in the night
and turn about in ecstasy of light
her name forgetting while in bliss she’s spun
my soul keeps pace so not to be outdone
fresh metaphors and verses to recite
rejoicing in the object of her sight
for the worlds twain I have seen are one
what is above is as what is below
what is without is as what is within
and all that is exalted brought down low
my orbit sweeps out then draws back again 
from bloom of morning to the evening glow
I’ll this time make no covenant with my sin
and in that moment tears begin to flow
the Earth to baptize and new life begin 

Photo by Daniel Joshua on Unsplash