C.E.Chaffin, in the comment-field of one of his blog entries, was lamenting the fact that many poets couldn’t write a sonnet in 15 minutes these days. I guess he is right.
I’d never tried this, but had a go. I failed. It took me 20 minutes. But I’m sure others can do better. In fact, people at Pffa’s Challenges forum already have.
Why not have a go? Post your sonnets on your blog. Then either link them to me (that obviously gets you bonus points!), or email me with the url so that I can take a look. I’ll try to link back.
The rules are:
1. You must write a sonnet within 20 minutes. 15 minutes gets you a bonus point.
2. You can’t think out anything beforehand, no choosing rhyming words, no gathering ideas or images – nothing.
3. No cheating.
Here’s my effort. I will have another shot soon:
The night he dragged his body up the slope
was like a death. The onward march of frostbite
slowed him down and his tick to telescope
his life into each momentary highlight
made him feel so small. It turned the brawl
within his head into a cough, a crack
in perfect thought. No time now to install
some explanation, or a zodiac
of routes that one might take. A born observer,
stung to action, he stooped to swallow wine,
untroubled by the threatened hangover
on the far side of dawn. Far out of line,
he climbed, although the stars alone were sane
to hang so high, loitering on the plain.
