The challenge I set for myself this month was to tackle the sonnet form. I learned, in doing a bit of research about this, that the two most well-known forms for the sonnet are the Shakespearean and the Petrarcan, but that there are many others as well. I decided to go with the familiar Shakespearean form for now, but I'll have to try some of the others later on.
I've been doing these in essentially chronological and geographic order, and so this one is set in Ketchikan, Alaska, where I completed my high school years. High school was not an easy or pleasant time for me, as junior high/middle school wasn't, but there were changes in the issues, though some of the old ones carried through in a new way.
Continue below the squiggle for the actual poem.
Kalliope
Means "beautiful voice" from Greek καλλος (kallos) "beauty" and οψ (ops) "voice". In Greek mythology she was a goddess of epic poetry and eloquence, one of the nine Muses.
Join us every Tuesday afternoon at the Daily Kos community political poetry club.
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments.
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional.
The keyboard is mightier than the sword.
Ketchikan
Yet another change, a move unchosen.
This time, from urban, back to the village.
Long days, as if dusk itself were frozen
Like my heart, depression subsumed the rage.
The sea smell, the salt tang was always there.
Blue mussels, rough rocks, long kelp draped ashore,
Fishing boats, tourist shops, rain-drenched, the air:
An island! Isolation, evermore?
Mountains steep, trees evergreen, these I loved.
Friendships came hard. I guarded my heart.
Father’s role, politics against me shoved,
Never fitting, always a bit apart.
Land versus myth: hard juxtaposition
Needed to leave, create my own vision.
Readers & Book Lovers Series Schedule
We have a volunteer (yep, it's me, Kit RMP)
for the third Tuesday
and another volunteer (ruleoflaw)
for the fourth Tuesday
of each month.
Two more such volunteers,
and I (bigjacbigjacbigjac) can relax!
So,
aside from any third, or fourth Tuesday,
such as the 17th or 24th of December,
aside from those,
all the other Tuesdays
are opportunities for you.
You have the poetry in you;
I can feel it!