For You will light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness -- Psalm 18:28
Spenserian Sonnet
And when despair, like a dark prophecy thrusts hard blows and heavy winds through my soul; invades my mind with evil poesy, and rhymes brimmed with sorrows as black as coal, will it be You whom my tongue shall extol? I sometimes fear I lack Daniel’s vision. I doubt; doubt! I am burdened by the toll but the light he saw, I can’t envision. Christians mock me with righteous derision; I struggle to lift my voice in prayer to let Daniel’s words strike with precision. He saw You fly upon the wings of air, but should dark sorrow set my heart aflame, I wonder Father: will I call Your name?
This is one of my favourites of yours Carmen. It has humility, humanity and a good rhythm/musicality throughout.
Sara.
Reviewed by Karen Chalfant (Reader)
Reviewed on October 7, 2004
Doubt is something the father of lies likes to see us squirming in but it's a natural thing that we all face. We just shouldn't face it too long. We need to turn from it and face the other way. Great poem!
Wonderful flow and form in this poem! Doubt is an occasional visitor to everyone who dares to think and feel. It is a necessary precursor to any higher level of insight. Even Jesus expressed doubts whilst being nailed to the Cross (at least according to the older gospels pre-dating St.John's). So, why shouldn't we? Franz
I am sure you will call for THE 'Father'.Your poem touches me deeply.I really ...really... really LOVE this beautiful poem.
(We have days of doubt,I think,when life's toil and sorrows weigh us down,I can relate to your poem Carmen.)
Best wishes
from
kay.
This is fantastic, Carmen!! Wow, it is so classically clean, it has all elements of great poetry; Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle and Song. The message of doubts, of striving, of feeling lost yet continuing, regardless of who is called in the end is a message of strength in agony. Lovely work!!
A tight construction and I admire your ability to work within this form with such apparent ease. Nothing about this seems forced, but flows down the line of an easy conversation with self. The central line is knockout and says it all with great reinforced impact. Yours is the humble heart held right in the hands of the Lord who admires your integrity and nurtures you through the rough AND the smooth. Call His name?! You already have!! Relationship is what matters and your last line says it all: "Father" is who He is and He is attentive to these thoughts... Powerful, poetic and poetically precise: in short, a masterpiece! Thank you, Carmen. LOL Kate xx
Carmen, you've done a great job with this sonnet.
Very fine in flow and form and metaphor.
It's wonderful to see you expanding your poetic skills.
The opening stanza stands out:
And when despair, like a dark prophecy
thrusts hard blows and heavy winds through my soul;
invades my mind with evil poesy,
and rhymes brimmed with sorrow as black as coal
This line is so strong both in articlation and its central position - a clear and simple statement packed with emotional honesty:
Carmen, first of all WOW on this sonnet form. Second, as others have mentioned the imagery here is striking. I'd also like to say that the content really resonates with my own experience as a Christian who has felt attacked from both sides, so to speak. The verse you chose is a beautiful one I have not heard before (or don't remember...) Thanks for this beauty, Dawn
Sixty-seven days after departing Flores Island in Europe’s westernmost waters, the schooner Heimdall and her stalwart crew has finally arrived at the mysterious Isla Socorro in the Revillagigedo Archipelagoes. The discoveries they make are astounding
There is no mystery on this journey to hell. You are witness to the crimes dealing out the death sentences... each justified by one of the seven deadly sins.
Enter a glamorous world controlled by one of San Francisco's ultra-wealthy socialites an
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Sara.
Jim Dunlap
(We have days of doubt,I think,when life's toil and sorrows weigh us down,I can relate to your poem Carmen.)
Best wishes
from
kay.
o, this is GORGEOUS! thought provoking, honest, soul searching, ever hopeful...POWERFUL!
(((HUGS))) and love, karla. :)
I salute You, Sublime Poet!
Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
Love Tinka
Peace
A wonderfully written sonnet - the imagery and your written words are excellent ... Kudos!!
Robert
Great depth to this.
Very fine in flow and form and metaphor.
It's wonderful to see you expanding your poetic skills.
The opening stanza stands out:
And when despair, like a dark prophecy
thrusts hard blows and heavy winds through my soul;
invades my mind with evil poesy,
and rhymes brimmed with sorrow as black as coal
This line is so strong both in articlation and its central position - a clear and simple statement packed with emotional honesty:
"I doubt; doubt! I am burdened by the toll"
Excellent poetry.
Lisa
To achieve this powerful gem in a sonnet leaves
me speechless!;-)Into my library it goes,
thank you!