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#1 |
half baked
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: just ducky
Posts: 12,078
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Anybody up for a sonnet? (One line at a time suggested)
Not sure if this will take too much work but if anyone's interested it would be fun to see what we come up with -
A sonnet (for anyone in this mostly erudite crowd who doesn't already know - and for those that do, I know there are other types of sonnets but I thought I'd stick with the English form) is a type of verse that consists of 14 lines in iambic pentameter, in this case, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG (or sometimes ABBA CDDC EFFE GG - with the last two lines usually being a comment on the previous 12). Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of them, as did many other great writers & poets. Okay, this sounds confusing, but it really isn't! "Iambic pentameter" just means that each line has 10 syllables in it, usually with the accent on every other beat (i.e., ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum), but even Shakespeare broke that rule often, and sometimes included 11 or (more rarely) 12 beats in a line. There's more, but it mostly applies to his plays, not to the sonnets. Here's one of my favorite Shakespeare sonnets as an example - I've labeled the lines as to their rhyme scheme: A: When in disgrace with Fortune and men's *eyes* B: I all alone beweep my outcast *state* , A: And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless *cries* , B: And look upon myself and curse my *fate* , C: Wishing me like to one more rich in *hope* , D: Featur'd like him, like him with friends *possess'd* , C: Desiring this man's art, and that man's *scope* , D: With what I most enjoy contented *least* ; E: Yet in these thoughts myself almost *despising* , F: Haply I think on thee, and then my *state* E: (Like to the lark at break of day *arising* F: From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's *gate* , G: For thy sweet love rememb'red such wealth *brings* , G: That then I scorn to change my state with *kings* . As I mentioned happens sometimes, the third & ninth lines have 11 syllables in them, but you can still say the lines so they fit the rhythm (i.e., ba-bada, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, and ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-baah-bum) - that's the key. Also, words like "beloved", "beauteous", "vanished", "cancelled" etc., can be stretched out or shortened to fit the rhythm, i.e. "belov'd" or "belov-ed", "beau-teous" or "beau-te-ous". See? BTW - here's a great site that has lots of sonnets to read - and you can write and submit your own, too! ![]() http://www.sonnets.org/ Okay, I'll start - one line at a time, unless you really, *really* feel the need to continue: ********************************************** In secret, I adore the sensuous line Last edited by lapietra : 10-19-2002 at 08:10 PM. |
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#2 |
one classy broad
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Cornhusker State
Posts: 1,229
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That clefts the chin of my salacious beau
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#3 |
half baked
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: just ducky
Posts: 12,078
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It renders me absolutely supine
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#4 |
one classy broad
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Cornhusker State
Posts: 1,229
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Sends shivers down my spine from head to toe
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#5 |
caesura
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 516
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Perhaps my musings are not a mystery
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3
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To those who understand a bleeding heart
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#7 |
one classy broad
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Cornhusker State
Posts: 1,229
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I often wonder if this god sees me
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#8 |
half baked
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: just ducky
Posts: 12,078
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Or if I play a mediocre part
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#9 |
King of the špatnýs
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: was that dog
Posts: 9,411
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For if my life and loves appear as nought
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#10 |
Butt-F***ing the World
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: the other side of normal
Posts: 5,863
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Please pay attention to the lines I give
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#11 |
King of the špatnýs
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: was that dog
Posts: 9,411
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as in my wounded heart this life has taught
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#12 |
one classy broad
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The Cornhusker State
Posts: 1,229
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Me moreso than ever to really live
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#13 |
Butt-F***ing the World
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: the other side of normal
Posts: 5,863
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So my secret shall only find true life
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#14 |
half baked
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: just ducky
Posts: 12,078
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When I become more than just his office wife!
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#15 |
half baked
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: just ducky
Posts: 12,078
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Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!!
That was fun!!!!!!!! Okay - someone start a new one!
__________________
“As long as the world is turning and spinning, we're gonna be dizzy and we're gonna make mistakes.” ~ Mel Brooks |
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