Poetry Blog No 199 Sonnet- Valentine Rose

         

            SONNET- VALENTINE ROSE

The so-called "Shakespearian" sonnet tends to have a certain progression of ideas- the first four lines present a subject, the next four elaborate it, the next four start to come to a conclusion and the last two (rhyming couplet) sum it up - or sometimes reverse it. However, this "argument" (thesis, development, penultimate conclusion, conclusion) is not the whole story for it needs to be conducted via imagery and sound combinations rather than merely abstract thoughts and so appeal to imagination and feeling as well as thought. Often the imagery will revolve around a central image- in this case the Valentine rose. 

           SONNET- VALENTINE ROSE

I'd wish that I could bring before your eyes

The finest blossom of the flower of light-

As fair as Venus, splendid in those skies

That pass from dusk's last lilac to deep night.

I'd wish that I could bring before your ears

Most moving blossoming of great-toned song

That, singing shining melody, appears

To weave with words both deep and fire-strong.

Though all my gifts are lines and one poor rose

It bears brave red as signal of the heart,

And though I write but this poor rhyme, it shows

Much struggle seeking words to speak soul's part.

  And if my gift be not of light-sung hue,

  Yet still I wish to speak of love for you.

Poetry Blog 198 Icarus

 Fall of Icarus Blondel Decoration Louvre

ICARUS

Redon Fall of Icarus

In Greek myth Icarus was the son of Daedalus who created the labyrinth that housed the Minotaur. However, for advising Ariadne to give Theseus the thread that helped him escape the Labyrinth, after killing the Minotaur, Daedalus and his son were imprisoned in a tall tower. Being, it seems, the MacGyver of his day, Daedalus built wings from the feathers birds dropped when coming to be fed bread and the wax of a beehive in the tower. Then he and Icarus flew from the prison over the sea. Icarus, however, overstepped the boundaries, despite his father’s warnings thus committing the sin of hubris or trying to be a “god.” In the poem the verses (except the last one) and  are Daedalus to Icarus.
Originally conceived as a song lyric you can hear a You Tube video version of the song at the bottom of the blog. 

The Lament of Icarus Herbert Draper

ICARUS

So flee the fretful hour,

Escape the prison tower;

Take to the sky's free power.

Don't rise up ever higher,

Don't soar to kingdom come;

Don't fly too near the fire,

Don't sail too near the sun;

Icarus, Icarus-

We cross the lashing sea,

We ride the winds so free,

Escaping joyfully.

Don't push beyond your part,

Don't force your rising flight;

Don't seek the sun's bright heart,

Don't reach beyond your right;

Icarus, Icarus -

The sun is warm on wings,

On wings of wax and strings;

Pay heed unto these things,

Don't try to touch the sun,

Don't go beyond your need;

Don't tease the shining one,

Don't grasp with boundless greed;

Icarus, Icarus-

Drunk on the fresh, free air,

All filled with joy he'd dare

To taunt the sun up there.

Don't press beyond your power,

Don't try to steal the light;

You can't pick heaven's flower,

You can't have endless sight;

Icarus, Icarus-

The wings melt in the glow,

And down and down he goes,

Drowns in the sea below.

Don't puff up with false pride,

Don't boast you are the best;

Don't take greed as your guide,

Don't put it to the test;

Icarus, Icarus-

So heed the story's call,

You just can't have it all,

Or else you're bound to fall.

Don't rise up ever higher,

Don't soar to kingdom come;

Don't fly too near the fire,

Don't sail too near the sun. 

Peter Bruegel Landscape with the Fall of Icarus This painting in which Icarus is but a detail just below the ship was he subject of a famous poem by Auden https://genius.com/W-h-auden-musee-des-beaux-arts-annotated

 

Poetry Blog No 197 Narrow Roads to Inner Lands Scene 12

SCENE TWELVE FROM NARROW ROADS TO INNER LANDS

In this scene an adventurous episode is given to us through the medium of narration. Fundamentally the travel dairy is a form of narration but the narration has symbolic and artistic overtones. In turning it into a play I am aware of the "lack" of direct action, however, I feel this makes a contemplative contrast to the endless "action" of most dramatic entertainment. 

 

SCENE TWELVE

A room in Seifū's house in Obanazawa. Night. As a pale light comes up, we find Bashō, Seifū and Sora seated on cushions on the floor, their faces illumined by a lamp on the floor. To one side there is a large, black silk screen.

SEIFŪ

Now sirs, may I ask humbly how you managed

With those most high and hard-tracked mountain passes

That mass upon our Dewa province borders?

I know of something of the wanderer's

Rough hardships and harsh struggle to go on,

For I have often faced long journeying

To reach the capital for business matters.

SORA

Great thanks for your inquiry, good sir.

To start we were delayed by some suspicions-

Gatekeepers on the pass put doubts that such

Attempting of hard roads was wise of us.

And thus the dark of night hours overtook

Our struggling steps while on steep mountainside.

BASHŌ

Still fortune found us shelter - there we chanced

Upon the house of one good gatekeeper, such

A comfort truly in that lonely spot.

Wild storm descended on us, holding us,

Delayed, in his rough dwelling, for three days.

SEIFŪ

Such useful shelter was a gift of time.

(As Bashō speaks, three silhouettes are seen on the screen- one large with sword and stick, the other two representing Bashō and Sora. They mime the progress of the walk note-this could also be a filmed projection)

BASHŌ

The mountains grown so mantled with thick growth,

The air beneath that foliage so hushed,

Made us just feel as though groped through night.

Not one bird's cry was heard. The wind above

Seemed breathing blackness from each rift in dark,

Oppressive cloud. We pushed on through a path

Of miles of snatching bamboo undergrowth

And stumbled over unseen rocks and stones.

At last we reached the small, safe village of

Mogami, after shedding much cold sweat.

Our guide was pleased by our safe passage, for

A range of accidents had ever added

More forms of hazard on past trips. Relieved,

And from a deepest honesty I thanked him

And so we parted. Yet a phantom fear

Still lingered in my mind for some time after.

(By this time the light behind the screen has faded and the room light has returned to normal.)

SEIFŪ

Well, after such a challenging ordeal,

I must insist you stay a few days here

To gather bone-good strength for future journeys.

BASHŌ

That is most fine and generous of you.

I’m sure we'd benefit from some days’ rest.

So I shall not refuse your kind request.

(Seifū picks up the lamp and they all exit.)

http://www.japanexperterna.se

Poetry Blog no 196 And Softly Falls the Summer Rain

AND SOFTLY FALLS THE SUMMER RAIN

 
   Poetry often tries to speak through images and sounds to the heart, rather than simply

 making a prosaic statement. In this it shares a little of the nature of music which, in its 

purely instrumental form, can conjure feelings and even a suggestion of images for us 

without having any specific prosaic content. This poem was written in summer 

in south-east Queensland. Summer there can get intense if it goes without rain or cloud. 

Here I have tried to use a natural occurrence to convey something of the general quality 

of "blessing". 
      In form the poem has three stanzas, each having  six lines of iambic tetrameter-

 unstressed, stressed syllables four times- And softly falls the summer rain. 

 
     The Lilly-Pilly is the common name for an Australian berry-bearing bush-

 Lilly Pilly trees are native to southern Asia and Madagascar. The highest level of diversity

 in Lilly Pilly varieties occur in Malaysia and Australia. The trees thrive on volcanic

 soil and deep sandy soils throughout tropical and subtropical coastal rain forest regions. 

The berries are a standard bush food staple and are considered a valuable famine food 

when other food sources are scarce

. https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Lilly_Pilly_Berries_9395.php

 

     AND SOFTLY FALLS THE SUMMER RAIN

And softly falls the summer rain.
The Lilly-Pilly waves wet leaves.
Far palms are darker on the greyness
of sky wide-tempered by deep cloud
than in the glare and heat of flare
that flames from blue... and cooled is air. 

And softly falls the summer rain.
The rising grass has gained white pearls
and snails are venturing abroad.
And cars, occasional, outside
add squelch and hiss to growl and glide.
And ringed by drops, street gutters run.

And after days of furnace sun
and drifts of smoke from heat-hazed hills,
like gentle time with wisdom's gain,
inspired after drought-dry bane,
like calm of balm on yearning's pain,
so softly falls the summer rain.