Crown Of Heroic Sonnets Challenge
Poetry Contest
I was reminded of the epic sonnet contest we had here on the site when I decided to propose a new kind of challenge: The Crown Of Heroic Sonnets Challenge. Warning: This is not a form for those with short attention spans. This should not be mistaken for the "Heroic Crown Of Sonnets" or "Sonnet Redoubled" (which in my opinion would be asking way too much).
The definition I found on line is:
A crown of sonnets is a sequence of seven sonnets, usually addressed to some one person, and concerned with a single theme.
Each of the sonnets explores one aspect of the theme, and is linked to the preceding and succeeding sonnets by repeating the final line of the preceding sonnet as it's first line, and by having it's final line be the first line of the succeeding sonnet. The first line of the first sonnet is repeated as the final line of the final sonnet thereby bringing the sequence to a close. Consequently no rhyme words were permitted to be repeated.
In other words: Your last line to the first sonnet acts as the first line to the next and chains them. This happens to each of them until the end. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to repeat any rhymes except for the linking of each sonnet. Also, the first line to the very first sonnet is used as the last line to the very last sonnet. That's it in a nutshell.
Here, the poet uses variations of Italian poetry forms to produce a lovely example of a Crown of Sonnets:
#1 Here, in the Silence (Italian Sonnet)
Here, in the silence of my warm home
I watch my thoughts as they turn inside
There, with no place for the mind to hide
I see it shrink back from a darkened dome
Where once the light of our love did roam
My poor mind and heart now flee in fright
It is cold here, no comfort yet in sight
My thoughts are shrouded in icy foam
From deeper inside a glow can be seen
A gentle warm feeling does now arise
It comforts me like a big stroking hand
At last I know that the worst part has been
I feel this light touch with sudden surprise
The light will return to this dark mind's land Now watch how this line continues in the next sonnets first line.
#2 The Light will return (Italian Sonnet)
The light will return to this dark mind's land
Though at this moment there still is some doubt
My hurting heart cannot stop to cry out
It yearns so much to be touched by your hand
The mind does reason, it is on the mend
Yet wishing to know what this was about
Hard won peace might be shredded by shout
Still honour is asking to firmly stand.
Respect of self is foremost in my mind
To live without it, that cannot be done
The strength from within is holding the fort
Gets help from without from minds of a kind
Thus taking care pain and doubt will stay gone
Life's ship will be lead into a safe port.
#3 Life's ship will be lead (Italian Sonnet)
Life's ship will be lead into a safe port
Here it can shelter till storms all have passed
From a sea clear, blue and silent at last
It will then set sail for tales to record
Strongly defended by word and by sword
Swiftly it sails on the waves moving fast
On the ocean of life which is truly vast
Serving the reign of an inner known lord.
It's best to stop to hold on at all cost
The future's still open to travel anew
A great chance to let bygones be bygones
Each day a new way to find what was lost
To share happy moments of which there aren't few
To reach out for life, be ready to dance.
#4 To reach out for Life (Sicilian Sonnet)
To reach out for Life, be ready to dance
First listen and feel the music there is
Andante assai you don't want to miss
Its sweet tones might bring you into a trance
A sudden crescendo and you take fright
The tempi of life can differ a lot
You'd better enjoy whatever you've got
The dance will go on by day and by night
You might get tired of moving so much
Might want a rest and sit out the next one
Watch from the sideline for a little while
Don't wait too long, or you get out of touch
Pick up the rhythm, the resting is done
Join in Life's dance and go on with a smile.
#5 Join in Life's dance (Sonetto Rispetto)
Join in Life's dance and go on with a smile
It will make you feel better you can trust
Even when you are sad for a short while
You have to go on and do, as you must
Just turn the page, put the old one on file
Taste Life anew, take a bite of its crust
The daily things, when done without guile
Will help you cleanse from your heart sadness' dust
Freed from this dust you might sparkle again
Your feet will be dancing, your eyes will shine
Your heart will know joy in Life's sweet refrain
So all that needs to be done, heart of mine
To let go of this stain, caused by old pain
Dare to flow with Life's forces and be fine.
#6 Dare to flow with Life's forces (Sonetto Rispetto)
Dare to flow with Life's forces and be fine
It sounds so easy, but sometimes is hard
To give up my heart's longing to be thine
Is yet painful to me and still does smart
Though I know I should listen and not whine
I also feel lonely and caught off guard
Some offers there are one cannot decline
Put on new music, let the dance restart
My feet know the paces, did not forget
The intricate steps of Life's solemn dance
The rhythm is fetching, moving the soul
When I follow its lead, I stop to fret
Peace will be here, it can bring a new chance
To be happy at last, to reach Life's goal.
#7 Finale To be happy at last (Sicilian Sonnet)
To be happy at last, to reach Life's goal
Is to know one's heart and find peace in it
An inner silence, which will never quit
But is always there to refresh the soul
Once that is certain you cannot go wrong
Its presence is with you in times of need
When you have to face up to an ugly deed
To think of it only will make you strong
This place I can rest in when life is hard
Will shelter my balance under its dome
Protect my mind's health and sustain my heart
Enfolded by it I can freely roam
This is what I found, right back from the start
Here, in the silence of my warm home. See how this is the first line in the first sonnet?
Copyright Leny Roovers.
Jan-12-2002
I propose you attempt this awesome feat by using the heroic sonnet rather than the Shakespearean or Italian hence the title of the challenge.
The Heroic Sonnet - This is an iambic pentameter based poem that adds a heroic couplet to either two Sicilian octave stanzas or four Sicilian quatrain stanzas. In other words, it's eighteen lines of iambic pentameter broken into three or five parts with the last part being a couplet. The rhyme scheme has usually been a,b,a,b,a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d,c,d,c,d - e,e OR a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d - e,f,e,f - g,h,g,h - i,i.
But hey, I'll be nice so use the second one (a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d - e,f,e,f - g,h,g,h - i,i). Just remember, there are five parts; every quatrain and couplet happens as the pivot. Here's an example:
Grand Final
(Heroic Sonnet)
A packed arena- thousands watch the fight
these revered gladiators now unfold;
the sun is warm, it is still early night
as the combatants enter; eyes behold
bold rippling muscles- minds are set to win.
Their dedication's tangible, it thrills
spectators' tribal instincts- let's begin!
The first hit is a winner, shows off skills
honed fine in years of agonizing pain-
the sculpted bodies, bronzed like statued gods,
advance, retreat; strike fast- and hit again.
When all seems lost- advantage changes odds,
the crowd is yelling fiercely, urging on
two tired fighters, on the bright green field;
the sun has set- the early bets foregone,
all eyes are riveted on who will yield.
The final break is there, the last ball's served-
it is a top-spin lob- in beauty curved.
Copyright Leny Roovers
30-1-2005
An iambic foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. We could write the rhythm like this:
da DUM
A line of iambic pentameter is five iambic feet in a row:
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM
Here is an example from my poem "The Romantic Era".
This / IS / my / SOUL'S / con / CEP / tion / OF / a / PRAISE
da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM
The higher entry fee is due to the magnitude of this challenge.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool which is based on the number of entries. The second and third place winners will each share the remaining prize pool. The prize pool is currently 140.00 member dollars. There are 5 spots still open. If all open spots are used the prize pool will be 240.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Sunday, January 25, 2009.
Full Contest Listing
The definition I found on line is:
A crown of sonnets is a sequence of seven sonnets, usually addressed to some one person, and concerned with a single theme.
Each of the sonnets explores one aspect of the theme, and is linked to the preceding and succeeding sonnets by repeating the final line of the preceding sonnet as it's first line, and by having it's final line be the first line of the succeeding sonnet. The first line of the first sonnet is repeated as the final line of the final sonnet thereby bringing the sequence to a close. Consequently no rhyme words were permitted to be repeated.
In other words: Your last line to the first sonnet acts as the first line to the next and chains them. This happens to each of them until the end. Unfortunately, you are not permitted to repeat any rhymes except for the linking of each sonnet. Also, the first line to the very first sonnet is used as the last line to the very last sonnet. That's it in a nutshell.
Here, the poet uses variations of Italian poetry forms to produce a lovely example of a Crown of Sonnets:
#1 Here, in the Silence (Italian Sonnet)
Here, in the silence of my warm home
I watch my thoughts as they turn inside
There, with no place for the mind to hide
I see it shrink back from a darkened dome
Where once the light of our love did roam
My poor mind and heart now flee in fright
It is cold here, no comfort yet in sight
My thoughts are shrouded in icy foam
From deeper inside a glow can be seen
A gentle warm feeling does now arise
It comforts me like a big stroking hand
At last I know that the worst part has been
I feel this light touch with sudden surprise
The light will return to this dark mind's land Now watch how this line continues in the next sonnets first line.
#2 The Light will return (Italian Sonnet)
The light will return to this dark mind's land
Though at this moment there still is some doubt
My hurting heart cannot stop to cry out
It yearns so much to be touched by your hand
The mind does reason, it is on the mend
Yet wishing to know what this was about
Hard won peace might be shredded by shout
Still honour is asking to firmly stand.
Respect of self is foremost in my mind
To live without it, that cannot be done
The strength from within is holding the fort
Gets help from without from minds of a kind
Thus taking care pain and doubt will stay gone
Life's ship will be lead into a safe port.
#3 Life's ship will be lead (Italian Sonnet)
Life's ship will be lead into a safe port
Here it can shelter till storms all have passed
From a sea clear, blue and silent at last
It will then set sail for tales to record
Strongly defended by word and by sword
Swiftly it sails on the waves moving fast
On the ocean of life which is truly vast
Serving the reign of an inner known lord.
It's best to stop to hold on at all cost
The future's still open to travel anew
A great chance to let bygones be bygones
Each day a new way to find what was lost
To share happy moments of which there aren't few
To reach out for life, be ready to dance.
#4 To reach out for Life (Sicilian Sonnet)
To reach out for Life, be ready to dance
First listen and feel the music there is
Andante assai you don't want to miss
Its sweet tones might bring you into a trance
A sudden crescendo and you take fright
The tempi of life can differ a lot
You'd better enjoy whatever you've got
The dance will go on by day and by night
You might get tired of moving so much
Might want a rest and sit out the next one
Watch from the sideline for a little while
Don't wait too long, or you get out of touch
Pick up the rhythm, the resting is done
Join in Life's dance and go on with a smile.
#5 Join in Life's dance (Sonetto Rispetto)
Join in Life's dance and go on with a smile
It will make you feel better you can trust
Even when you are sad for a short while
You have to go on and do, as you must
Just turn the page, put the old one on file
Taste Life anew, take a bite of its crust
The daily things, when done without guile
Will help you cleanse from your heart sadness' dust
Freed from this dust you might sparkle again
Your feet will be dancing, your eyes will shine
Your heart will know joy in Life's sweet refrain
So all that needs to be done, heart of mine
To let go of this stain, caused by old pain
Dare to flow with Life's forces and be fine.
#6 Dare to flow with Life's forces (Sonetto Rispetto)
Dare to flow with Life's forces and be fine
It sounds so easy, but sometimes is hard
To give up my heart's longing to be thine
Is yet painful to me and still does smart
Though I know I should listen and not whine
I also feel lonely and caught off guard
Some offers there are one cannot decline
Put on new music, let the dance restart
My feet know the paces, did not forget
The intricate steps of Life's solemn dance
The rhythm is fetching, moving the soul
When I follow its lead, I stop to fret
Peace will be here, it can bring a new chance
To be happy at last, to reach Life's goal.
#7 Finale To be happy at last (Sicilian Sonnet)
To be happy at last, to reach Life's goal
Is to know one's heart and find peace in it
An inner silence, which will never quit
But is always there to refresh the soul
Once that is certain you cannot go wrong
Its presence is with you in times of need
When you have to face up to an ugly deed
To think of it only will make you strong
This place I can rest in when life is hard
Will shelter my balance under its dome
Protect my mind's health and sustain my heart
Enfolded by it I can freely roam
This is what I found, right back from the start
Here, in the silence of my warm home. See how this is the first line in the first sonnet?
Copyright Leny Roovers.
Jan-12-2002
I propose you attempt this awesome feat by using the heroic sonnet rather than the Shakespearean or Italian hence the title of the challenge.
The Heroic Sonnet - This is an iambic pentameter based poem that adds a heroic couplet to either two Sicilian octave stanzas or four Sicilian quatrain stanzas. In other words, it's eighteen lines of iambic pentameter broken into three or five parts with the last part being a couplet. The rhyme scheme has usually been a,b,a,b,a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d,c,d,c,d - e,e OR a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d - e,f,e,f - g,h,g,h - i,i.
But hey, I'll be nice so use the second one (a,b,a,b - c,d,c,d - e,f,e,f - g,h,g,h - i,i). Just remember, there are five parts; every quatrain and couplet happens as the pivot. Here's an example:
Grand Final
(Heroic Sonnet)
A packed arena- thousands watch the fight
these revered gladiators now unfold;
the sun is warm, it is still early night
as the combatants enter; eyes behold
bold rippling muscles- minds are set to win.
Their dedication's tangible, it thrills
spectators' tribal instincts- let's begin!
The first hit is a winner, shows off skills
honed fine in years of agonizing pain-
the sculpted bodies, bronzed like statued gods,
advance, retreat; strike fast- and hit again.
When all seems lost- advantage changes odds,
the crowd is yelling fiercely, urging on
two tired fighters, on the bright green field;
the sun has set- the early bets foregone,
all eyes are riveted on who will yield.
The final break is there, the last ball's served-
it is a top-spin lob- in beauty curved.
Copyright Leny Roovers
30-1-2005
An iambic foot is an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. We could write the rhythm like this:
da DUM
A line of iambic pentameter is five iambic feet in a row:
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM
Here is an example from my poem "The Romantic Era".
This / IS / my / SOUL'S / con / CEP / tion / OF / a / PRAISE
da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM / da / DUM
The higher entry fee is due to the magnitude of this challenge.
The contest winner will win half of the prize pool which is based on the number of entries. The second and third place winners will each share the remaining prize pool. The prize pool is currently 140.00 member dollars. There are 5 spots still open. If all open spots are used the prize pool will be 240.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 2 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.
Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Sunday, January 25, 2009.
