Take Flight: The Sonnets

By Thomas G. Reischel

The Sonnets

The Sonnets are one of the best known, and often most beautiful, forms of poetry. Of course, Shakespeare made them famous. His works are among the best of all time. In fact, his name has become synonymous with the name “Sonnet.”

 

The basic Sonnet is composed of 14 lines usually written in

• Language: English
• Publisher: LitFire Publishing
• Release date: Feb 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781641510554

Thomas G. Reischel

The author was born on 9/11/1948 and raised in Minnesota. He resides with his wife of 40+ years in its Capital of St. Paul, Minnesota. So, his pictures and tone carry a Midwestern sensibility and leaning. He has been writing poetry since he was a freshman in high school, when he had to write one as a class assignment. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a BS in Business. He has been a top ranked poet on the FanStory site since 2011, with over 2000 Poems posted there. In 2015, he judged the poetry for the VOICE of KANSAS, Poetry Contest. He has over 900 photographs published on the Capture Minnesota website, an affiliate of Twin Cities Public Television. He has an acclaimed photograph in the 2012 One Life, Photo Journal. His Poem, "Enlightenment from the Merry-Go-Round", is published in Preston McWorter's book, Seeds of Enlightened Society. He worked for over 40 years as a purchasing manager for a large defense contractor, but is now retired. An avid Minnesota booster, he also lived in Colorado Springs from 1985 until 1991, and in St. James, LI, New York from 1991 until 1996. He has published 3 other books of poems in a series -Picture Poems, Volumes 1, 2, and 3. as well as a 4th book, Take Flight, The Sonnets. His 5th book is Animated Stills: Poetic Pariadolia.

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Take Flight

Copyright © 2018 by Thomas G. Reischel

ISBN: 978-1-64151-056-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Printed in the United States of America.

LitFire LLC

1-800-511-9787

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Standard Formats

A. English Sonnets

Sonnet 1: Autumn’s Golden Veil

Sonnet 2: Broken Door

Sonnet 3: California Fires

Sonnet 4: PPF - Pretty Pink Flower

B. Shakespearean Sonnets.

Sonnet 5: Bewildering Change

Sonnet 6: Blue Bachelor Buttons

Sonnet 7: Floral Fire

Sonnet 8: Pirates Plight

Sonnet 9: Rift of War

C. Italian Sonnets

Sonnet 10: Blest Beauty

Sonnet 11: Investing

Sonnet 12: Outside Our Bedroom Window

Sonnet 13: These Bees

Sonnet 14:This Golden Hour

D. Petrarchan Sonnets.

Sonnet 15: Heaven and Hell

Sonnet 16: Reflections on the Water

E. Spenserian Sonnets

Sonnet 17: Bridge Knowledge

Sonnet 18: Distracted by Beauty

Sonnet 19: Stony Gaze

F. American Sonnets

Sonnet 20: Lethal Legacy

Sonnet 21: To Robin Williams

Sonnet 22: Silver Scene

G. Modern Sonnets

Sonnet 23: Firebird

Sonnet 24: Frustration at Itasca

Sonnet 25: PEEPS and Company

Sonnet 26: Resolutions

Sonnet 27:The Eyes on Me

Sonnet 28: True Love

H. Blank Verse Sonnet

Sonnet 29: Night’s Revelations

Sonnet 30: OH Voyageur!

Chapter 2. Sonnet Form Transitions

A. Acrostic Sonnet

Sonnet 31: What Is This Fuss?

Sonnet 32: When Your Love Is

B. Kyrielle Sonnet

Sonnet 33: White Bird

C. Limerick Sonnet

Sonnet 34: The Debate

D. Pantoum Sonnet

Sonnet 35: The Crowd was WOW’d

Sonnet 36: Their Spirits Dance

E. Quatern Sonnet

Sonnet 37: Dahlia Bloom

F. Rondel Sonnet

Sonnet 38: Sidewalk Adorned

G. Rubaiyat Sonnet

Sonnet 39: The Verdant Pond

H. Sestina Sonnet

Sonnet 40: Golf Course Sign

I. Terza Rima Sonnet

Sonnet 41: Sacrificial Savior

J. Triolet Sonnet (Aka: SonnTriolet, or Sonniolet)

Sonnet 42: Pansies

Chapter 3. Famous Poet Sonnet Forms

A. Byron’s Sonnet

Sonnet 43: Seeking Home

B. Dante’s Sonnet Variation

Sonnet 44: Imagination Spawned

C. Pushkin Sonnets

Sonnet 45: Best Buddy

Sonnet 46: Scurrying Squirrels

D. Tirell Sonnet

Sonnet 47: Enjoy a Fire

E. Tuckerman Sonnet

Sonnet 48: Golden Painted Sky

Chapter 4. Couplet Relocation Sonnets

A. Alfred Dorn Sonnet

Sonnet 49: The Heart in the City

B. Inverted Sonnet

Sonnet 50:Sunny Day Play

C. Tirell Sonnet

Sonnet 51: Bitter Pill

D. Tory Hexatet Sonnet

Sonnet 52: Geese at Peace

Chapter 5. Stanzaic Sonnets

A. Alfred Dorn Sonnet

Sonnet 53: Darkest Depression

B. Hex Sonetta

Sonnet 54:Spellbound

C. Roserian Sonnet

Sonnet 55: Love and Flowers

D. Saraband Sonnet

Sonnet 56: Minnesota Capitol Building

E. Sestet Sonnet

Sonnet 57: Wander With a Friend

F. Tory Hexatet Sonnet

Sonnet 58: Past Youth

G. Tricet Sonnet

Sonnet 59: Some Thoughts to Ponder

H. Trilonnet

Sonnet 60: Remember Him

Chapter 6. Added Lines

A. Carrett Sonnet

Sonnet 61: Vortex of the Dark

B. Caudette Sonnet

Sonnet 62: The Picnic

C. Compound Sonnet

Sonnet 63: Worldly Rhythms

D. Dante’s Version Sonnet

Sonnet 64: Among the Trees

E. Fusion Sonnet

Sonnet 65: Humanity

F. Heroic Sonnet

Sonnet 66: The Yellow Mountains of China

G. Septillian Sonnet

Sonnet 67: Morning at Camp

H. Super Sonnet

Sonnet 68: Computer Industry Genesis

Chapter 7. Sonnets with Rhyme Variations.

A. Arabian Onegin Sonnet

Sonnet 69: Winter Spell

B. Asean Sonnet

Sonnet 70: Bumble Bees

C. Beymorlin Sonnet

Sonnet 71: Time to Play

D. Dual Sonnet

Sonnet 72: Fall, the Best

E. Pantygonnet

Sonnet 73: Deforestation

F. Sestina Sonnet

Sonnet 74: Gliding Therapy

G. Shadow Sonnet

Sonnet 75: Time

H. Slide Sonnet

Sonnet 76: Tree Top Thoughts

I. Triptic Sonnet

Sonnet 77: Leaf Cascade

Sonnet 78: Oaken Arms

Sonnet 79: OH Dandelion

J. Visser Sonnet (aka. Hidden Rhyme Sonnet)

Sonnet 80: Exploring Cliff Cave

K. Welsh Sonnet

Sonnet 81: Ghost Ship - Lady Lovibond

Chapter 8. Sonnets with Unusual Line Lengths

A. Cornish Sonnet

Sonnet 82: Fountain with Fatsia

B. Faux Free Verse Sonnet

Sonnet 83: The Spot

C. Fusion Sonnet

Sonnet 84: Cash, My Brother’s Dog

D. Hex Sonnetta

Sonnet 85: Wayward Wings

E. Japanese Sonnet

Sonnet 86: Japanese Sonnet (bright decoration)

F. Jazz Sonnet

Sonnet 87: Groovin’

G. Limerick Sonnet

Sonnet 88: Crooked Trees

H. Lyricat Sonnet

Sonnet 89: Baby News

I. Sapphic Sonnet.

Sonnet 90: Water Garden

J. Saraband Sonnet

Sonnet 91: Patterns

K. Tory Hexatet.

Sonnet 92: The Passion of Pan (Lilac Legend)

L. Tuckerman Sonnet

Sonnet 93: Anticipation

M. Welsh Sonnet

Sonnet 94: The Bond

N. Word Sonnet

Sonnet 95: Meet

Sonnet 96: Obsessions

Sonnet 97: Rescue

Sonnet 98: Sore Loser

Chapter 9. Sonnets with Unusual Meter

A. The Curtal Sonnet

Sonnet 99: Dangled Art

B. Limerick Sonnet

Sonnet 100: When the Rains Stop

C. Pushkin Sonnets

Sonnet 101: Sleeps Silently in Snow

Sonnet 102: Such Souls are We

D. Sapphic Sonnet

Sonnet 103: Glowing Buds

E. Word Sonnets

Sonnet 104: Out House

Sonnet 105: Moment

Sonnet 106: So!

Chapter 10. Shortened Sonnets

A. The Curtal Sonnet

Sonnet 107: Hidden in the Fog

B. The Sonnetino

Sonnet 108: Bus Stop

Sonnet 109: Eagle Perch

Chapter 11. Sonnets with Repeating Refrains

A. The Cornish Sonnet

Sonnet 110: Water’s Edge

B. Couplet Sonnet

Sonnet 111: Rain Filled Culverts

Sonnet 112: Yellow Lilies

C. Echo Sonnet

Sonnet 113: Sweet Music

D. Kyrielle Sonnet

Sonnet 114: Majestic Mountain Goat

E. The Lyricat Sonnet

Sonnet 115: Gathering Gloom

F. Pantoum Sonnet

Sonnet 116: Pink Ladies

Sonnet 117: A Day by the Lake

G. Quatern Sonnet

Sonnet 118: Landing Loon

H. Rondel Sonnet

Sonnet 119: Pincers Probe

I. Swannet Sonnet (or just Swannet)

Sonnet 120: Turning Two

J. Tirell Sonnet

Sonnet 121: Dances in the Ferns

K. Triolet Sonnet (aka. Sonn Triolet)

Sonnet 122: Juxtaposed Elements

Chapter 12. Expanded Sequence Sonnets

A. Heroic Sonnet

Sonnet 123: Lush Lagoon

B. Super Sonnet

Sonnet 124: Homeless Halloween

C. Sonnet Trilogy

Sonnet 125: Be Careful What You Ask For

D. Tiara of Sonnets

Sonnet 126: Crabapple Bloom

Sonnet 127: Rosebud in Springtime

Sonnet 128: Spring Buds

E. Coronet of Sonnets

Sonnet 129: Revealed and Concealed

F. Crown of Heroic Sonnets

Sonnet 130: A Pirate’s Tale

Sonnet 131: Buffalo - The Great Slaughter

Sonnet 132: Minnesota Early Explorers -1600s

Sonnet 133: Robbing Paul to Pay Peter

Sonnet 134: Scientific Inquisition

Sonnet 135: Shetek Massacre at Slaughter Slough

G. Wreath of Sonnets

Sonnet 136: Wreath Sonnet 7

H. Sonnet Cycle

I. Sonnet Sequence

Chapter 13. Special Complex Sonnets

A. A Double Acrostic Cleaved Petrarchan/Rondeau Sonnet

Sonnet 137: The Power of Song

B. An 11-9 Metered Anapestic Heroic Sonnet

Sonnet 138: Satan’s Rage

C. Modeled End-Line Sonnet

Sonnet 139: Sunset Passion

D. Nonet/Cinquain Sonnet

Sonnet 140: Where go the Flow

Chapter 14. Grab Bag.

A. A Mix of Various Sonnets

Sonnet 141: A Good Day - Fishing

Sonnet 142: Angry Ancient Oaks

Sonnet 143: All Hallows Night

Sonnet 144: Cockled Whilst Away

Sonnet 145: Determination

Sonnet 146: Farewell 2015

Sonnet 147: Ford’s Fate

Sonnet 148: Forest Fantasy

Sonnet 149: Frozen Falls

Sonnet 150: God’s Gift

Sonnet 151: Little People

Sonnet 152: Marksman

Sonnet 153 : My Temperature is Rising

Sonnet 154: Proud Battle Lines

Sonnet 155: Push and Pull

Sonnet 156. Raindrops on Flowers

Sonnet 157: Richard and Renie

Sonnet 158: Season’s Sight

Sonnet 159: Simple Decorations

Sonnet 160: Sorrow

Sonnet 161: Such a Day

Sonnet 162: Sweet Sleep

Sonnet 163: Stumped

Sonnet 164: The Dance

Sonnet 165: The Falls

Sonnet 166: The Signs

Sonnet 167: Van Gogh

Sonnet 168: War Weary Budgets

Sonnet 169: Washburn Watertower

Sonnet 170: The Sonnets

Conclusion

Descriptions of Sonnets.

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my late mother-in-law, Elizabeth J. Cutter, who said my poetry was MASTERFUL, ; to young poets everywhere, those budding bards and sonneteers; and to those who love the language of poetry. May Sonnets fill your days with joy!

Acknowledgement

I’d like to thank my wife, Karen Lynne (Sweetnam) Reischel, for her patience and acceptance of my time spent working on this book. Thanks to all the support staff at LitFire Publishing, for making the process simple and easy. This book would not have been possible if it were not for the site where I post all my poems, FanStory, and where each gets reviewed by my peer poets, especially from Jim Bartlett, Dean Kuch, Catherine Ginn, and Sandra Mitchell for their inspiration, support and suggestions. Some even contributed their own Sonnet formats that were then incorporated by me into the book. Most notably, Jim Bartlett created the Pantygonnet, introduced me to Pushkin, and wrote the memorable Double Acrostic Cleaved, Petrarchan/Rondeau format. Stephan A Carter contributed the Carrett Sonnet. Catherine Ginn added the LyriCat, and the Tiara of Sonnets. Meanwhile Nancy E. Davis created the Septillian, and Jyoti contributed the Sonnetino to the mix. Thanks to Tony Fawcus for introducing me to the Echo format. Finally I can’t thank my mentor, Gungalo (who has since passed away), enough for opening my eyes to all the fabulous forms of poetry there were, as I was first starting out. Many thanks to Wikipedia as a profound source of knowledge. Plus all my other fans, family and friends. I fully appreciate your time and support.

Introduction

In this book, I have identified 74 different Configurations/Formats of the Sonnet Form, and have personally written 170 examples. All the poems and all the photographs in this book are mine. I include photographs, because I am also a Photographer. I believe that the two Genre complement each other in a way that creates a powerful Synergy. If you are familiar with my 3 book series, Picture Poems, you know then what I am all about.

My purpose in this book is many fold. I hope one can just read the Poetry and enjoy it, but particularly become emerged in the true beauty of this lovely Poetic Form. I hope the photography is enticing, and that the Synergy it adds to the Poetry is a powerful addition to the reader’s enjoyment. I want the reader to grasp the flexibility, complexity, and adaptability of the Sonnet Format. I desire that the reader values learning about Poetry, and that they find something new and exciting about Sonnets in particular. I hope Students and Teachers alike can use this work in some way. So this book is meant for Poetry Lovers, Students, Teachers, budding Poets, Photography Aficionados, and avid Readers.

I must acknowledge, that much of the historical information and technical detail herein comes from Wikipedia.

In this book, I consider Major Terms of poetry, as well as descriptions of Poetry Types, to be addressable as Proper Names. Therefore, you will see them capitalized, such as: Rhyme Scheme, Stanza, Couplet, Quatrain, Free Verse, Meter, Syllable, Line, Structure and Volta. I also capitalize Themes, and sometimes do it just for emphasis. I know this will drive some people crazy, but I consider it essential to identify them as such. After all, they are the Key Elements, and I want them to be recognized as such. The same goes for the names of Poetic Styles and Formats. So I hope you will bear with me in this.

To understand this book of Sonnets, a number of technical items must be addressed, because I provide a lot of technical detail meant to assist other poets and students in writing their own. If you already know these things, just skip this area. If technical details are not your cup-of-tea, just read and enjoy the poems.

Let’s start with a discussion of Rhyme. Poems may or may not have Rhyme. Although, most Sonnets do Rhyme. The Rhyme is usually at the end of each line and is known as End-rhyme. If not at the end, it is known as In-line rhyme. As you read my poetic descriptions, I may refer to the End-rhymes in an alphanumeric code. For example, the first rhyming word in a poem is referred to as the a Rhyme, and every line in the poem that Rhymes with it is designated the letter a. The second Rhyme to occur would be identified as b, the third as c, and so on. The most common poem has 4 lines (a Quatrain). The most typical End-rhyme Rhyme Schemes for a Quatrain are:

aabb (Coupled Rhyme)

abab (Alternating Rhyme)

abba (Enveloping Rhyme)

abcb (Skipping Rhyme)

Beyond End-line and In-line Rhyme are other nuances. For example, there may be no End-line Rhymes, but lines do rhyme within the middle of each line. This is known as Hidden Rhyme. A very Welsh adaptation that is known as Cross Rhyme, where the End-line Rhyme matches to an In-line word on the following line. Rhymes can also be identified as perfect, near, or slant.

Perfect Rhyme is where the stressed vowel sound between two words are identical, plus any subsequent sounds.

Near Rhyme is a Rhyme between a stressed and an unstressed Syllable – wing/caring.

Slant Rhyme is Rhyme matching Assonance (vowels) or Consonance –shake/hate or rabies/robbers.

Oblique Rhyme is Rhyme where the sounds are similar, but don’t really match – one/thumb, or green/fiend.

Syllabic Rhyme is Rhyme in which the last Syllables sound the same, but are not the stressed Syllable – pitter/patter.

Mono-rhyme is where all the End-line Rhymes in a Stanza, (or even the entire multi-Stanza poem) are the same.

No Rhyme is known as Free Verse or Blank Verse, although Free Verse with some Rhyme is known as Free Style.

Now, let’s turn from Rhymes to Line Structure. There are many other Line Structures in poetry besides the Quatrain, based on the number of Lines. Simply speaking, the most common are:

Two lines – a Couplet

Three lines – a Tercet

Four lines – a Quatrain

Five lines – a Quintain, or a Quintet, or Cinquain

Six lines – a Sestet, or Sexain, or Sextet

Seven lines – a Septet, or Septain

Eight lines – an Octave, or Octet

Nine Lines – a Nanotet, or Nonet, or a Spenserian Stanza

Ten lines – a Decatain, or Decatet, or Decastitch

Poems may contain a paragraph. These are known as Stanzas. These Stanzas may contain the same Rhyme or may vary. In order to distinguish the Rhyme Scheme, an alphanumeric code is typically employed. Here are examples of the Rhyme Scheme codes of a poem with two Stanzas.

aabb baba (Here the Rhyme was the