FAST Sonnets in Cyberspace #4

Hear — “All I’ve wanted is to feel wanted” —
Thus spoke NBA player, L.A. left —
So speaks every human heart … undaunted?
Why does life lie and leave us death-bereft,
Abandoned, desolate and forsaken,
Like child at dad-discarded first day’s light?
Like spouse, guilty innocent — awakened
To find acid spilled, mind blinded, heart blight
Of clay — lay pleasure poisoned, emission
Searing soul sans nocturnal permission?
Like corrupt(ed) construction: hope and homes,
Then site unseen, Love Canal — who atones?
Oh, You who cried on Dad-deserted day
Called good rescue us please from toxic play •

© Bruce William Deckert 2014

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POETRY NOTES

• Yes, the sentiment of this sonnet focuses on the desolation of Good Friday — as in the gospel accounts, Easter must wait — and thus on the desolation humans feel in certain painful circumstances.

• The closing couplet observes that Jesus of Nazareth shares our desolation — and makes a desperate request for Him to bring Easter to our broken hearts and lives.

• Except for the final stanza, the rhyme scheme follows the structure of a Shakespearean (or English) sonnet, a 14-line poem with 10 syllables per line, comprised of three stanzas (of four lines each) plus a closing couplet.

• Given its brevity and power-packed structure, the sonnet is perhaps the best poem for the fast-moving 21st century.

• By the way, are you wondering who the NBA player is — the player quoted in this poem’s opening line? Here’s a multiple-choice quiz for any inquiring minds:

A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar aka Lew Alcindor
B. Trevor Ariza
C. Kobe Bryant
D. Magic Johnson
E. George Mikan
F. Shaquille O’Neal
G. James Worthy
H. other

If you wish to vote, feel free to copy-and-paste your choice into the Leave A Reply field below, aka the comment section.

And if you want to know the answer without guessing — you can click here to read the ESPN The Magazine article that contains both the name of the player and the quote.

• Thanks for stopping by — I hope your visit has been worthwhile •

FAST Sonnets in Cyberspace #1

The sonnet is perhaps the best poem structure for the attention-distracted, on-the-go citizens of the 21st century. No lengthy free verse here — instead, 14 compact lines, 10 syllables per line, accompanied by certain rhyme schemes.

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THE BACKBOARD, though blemished, the years bear well,
Witness to losses, wild wins. But the rim
Droops low, lifeless — will no more fame foretell,
Ground right-angled. From driveway of time, dim
Voices call like playground hymns, bounding ball
Echoes … as cold mist mantles summer park,
A child’s lost memories shroud my heart, hopes maul —
For ere my dreams danced, they cried in the dark.
Dad-and-son team, signed to play side-by-side,
Torn apart on blacktop of time — facade
Of years won’t chase the pain or keep it hid —
While this father-taught game grieves at the trade.
   Oh, when I teach my son asphalt ballet —
   On forsaken Son’s court — with him I’ll stay.

© Bruce William Deckert 2012

NOTES
Poetry 411 — This is a Shakespearean (or English) sonnet. The rhyme scheme — the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line — is as follows: abab cdcd efef gg. Each letter represents a different rhyme, and the gg rhyme is called the closing couplet.

Alternate closing couplet
I’ll teach my newborn son asphalt ballet —
And like incarnate Son, with him I’ll stay.

Poll — Yes, you can vote for the closing couplet you prefer…