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    Parker Owens
  • Parker Owens
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  • 08/22/2017
  • 205 Words
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  • 19 Comments
Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Disasters, Delights and Other Detours - 1. Two First Sonnets

If you find an error or a problem, know that I am solely responsible for all of them.

Foolishness

I built a tissue paper palace grand,
an edifice Mad Ludwig could applaud,
with crenelated battlements unflawed,
foundations built upon the finest sand.
No better could be found on hill or strand,
yet shame and fear my inward being gnawed,
that all my fair construction was a fraud;
yet even so, I further building planned.
Alas, my engineering was in vain,
for though it looked both beautiful and bold,
my pretty structure could not stand the rain,
nor was it safe from mildew, rot and mold.
So o'er it's jeweled brightness spread the stain,
for tissue cannot stand against the cold.

Sailor's Lament

And I would lose myself in him who waits
in cheerful sunlit patience by the shore
to see above the waves my sails a-soar,
on whom the smile of fortune ne'er abates;
each night I'd pray my bodily estates
invite his inclination to explore,
for I would have him penetrate the more
that wilderness beyond the manor gates.
I weep, for fate my absence must extend
the dull and weary work that is my lot;
such labor shuts out kindred, foe and friend,
all intimate connections left to rot,
without an opportunity to mend
our hopelessly unraveled lover's knot.

Thank you for reading these. If you have a comment, critique or curse, please do leave it. I appreciate everyone's thoughts.
Copyright © 2017 Parker Owens; All Rights Reserved.
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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Chapter Comments

Headstall

No matter your intent, I couldn't help seeing Foolishness as a metaphor for a relationship you always knew couldn't stand up to life's trials. I know that feeling, and the determination to ignore the signs while knowing... another one to hit home. Superb, Parker :) 

 

Sailor's Lament works extremely well. Life gets in the way, and we can't devote ourselves to what we really want... we leave our sailor twisting as we stay grounded, taking care of the lamented responsibilities. 

 

I weep, for fate my absence must extend
the dull and weary work that is my lot;
such labor shuts out kindred, foe and friend,
all intimate connections left to rot,
without an opportunity to mend
our hopelessly unraveled lover's knot.

 

The last line is perfection... great beginnings to your new collection, Parker... cheers... Gary.... 

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Valkyrie
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I enjoyed them both, but the first one really speaks to me.  It's nice to see you post a new collection.  These do not disappoint. 

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Parker Owens
1 hour ago, Mikiesboy said:

both lovely .. both have rot.. interesting

 

You noticed they both have decay as a theme. Thanks for getting that. I wasn't sure anyone would. And I am glad you found them to be interesting. Thanks always for reading!

Edited by Parker Owens
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Parker Owens
1 hour ago, Headstall said:

No matter your intent, I couldn't help seeing Foolishness as a metaphor for a relationship you always knew couldn't stand up to life's trials. I know that feeling, and the determination to ignore the signs while knowing... another one to hit home. Superb, Parker :) 

 

Sailor's Lament works extremely well. Life gets in the way, and we can't devote ourselves to what we really want... we leave our sailor twisting as we stay grounded, taking care of the lamented responsibilities. 

 

I weep, for fate my absence must extend
the dull and weary work that is my lot;
such labor shuts out kindred, foe and friend,
all intimate connections left to rot,
without an opportunity to mend
our hopelessly unraveled lover's knot.

 

The last line is perfection... great beginnings to your new collection, Parker... cheers... Gary.... 

 Thank you, Gary. These two are definitely sonnets for the ending of summer, before the school year closes in around me and makes it impossible to think beyond the next bell. The Sailor's Lament is a kind of metaphor in that, too. I did blush when you said the last line is perfection. That's very kind of you. You nailed my own understanding of Foolishness, too. One can pin one's hopes on such fragile structures, but they are surely destined to crumple. I hope you think these were a good start to a new book.

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Parker Owens
47 minutes ago, Valkyrie said:

I enjoyed them both, but the first one really speaks to me.  It's nice to see you post a new collection.  These do not disappoint. 

 

I am glad you liked these. I hope you think them worthy of a new collection - and that you'll be back!

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Valkyrie
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6 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

 

I am glad you liked these. I hope you think them worthy of a new collection - and that you'll be back!

Of course they're worthy and do you honestly think I"m going anywhere? :gikkle::hug::kiss: 

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dughlas

A fairy tale castle of tissue paper built upon such impermanence. A case of letting hopes and dreams run before sound judgement.

I like others found something deep within "our hopelessly unraveled lover's knot". What a wonderfully concise restatement of all that comes before it.

Apparently the end of summer has brought rot to mind. Might this be a subliminal fear of zombified brains returning with your students?

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Parker Owens
37 minutes ago, dughlas said:

A fairy tale castle of tissue paper built upon such impermanence. A case of letting hopes and dreams run before sound judgement.

I like others found something deep within "our hopelessly unraveled lover's knot". What a wonderfully concise restatement of all that comes before it.

Apparently the end of summer has brought rot to mind. Might this be a subliminal fear of zombified brains returning with your students?

 

A certain amount of summer brain rot - one can politely call it 'regression' I suppose - is inevitable. Perhaps I am channeling that, or the waning  of the garden. In any case, thank you for reading these, and for your comments. The lover's knot is an actual nautical knot, I believe. Difficult to tie, and harder to re-tie. 

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AC Benus

I'm struck by the concept of building a castle "on the finest sand." Not any old unsuitable substrate, but some carefully cultivated conceit not meant to even serve a temporary foundation. It's like even 'from the ground up,' the construction was never meant to last. 

 

The second sonnet is really striking for the flow and beauty of images. 

 

Hugs and thanks for posting these. 

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asamvav111

all intimate connections left to rot

 

Metaphors, metaphors, more metaphors

A feast delectable for the crows

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Parker Owens
11 hours ago, AC Benus said:

I'm struck by the concept of building a castle "on the finest sand." Not any old unsuitable substrate, but some carefully cultivated conceit not meant to even serve a temporary foundation. It's like even 'from the ground up,' the construction was never meant to last. 

 

The second sonnet is really striking for the flow and beauty of images. 

 

Hugs and thanks for posting these. 

 

Thank you for picking up on that. One of the things that prompted that line was my mom's memory of a World's Fair - nearly all the structures were intended to be torn down afterwards. And, of course, there is the biblical reference. How often we build something for temporary use, only to fall in love with it. 

 

Sailor's Lament languished a long time unfinished, until one day I looked at it and all the lines flowed out as naturally as if I had sung it out from sheet music. Funny how that works. And he is still waiting on the shore...

 

Thanks again for your lovely and supportive comments. 

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Parker Owens
6 hours ago, asamvav111 said:

all intimate connections left to rot

 

Metaphors, metaphors, more metaphors

A feast delectable for the crows

 

The metaphors pile up so fast, the carrion birds don't know what to make of the wealth. Hope you had fun sifting through them. Thank you for reading these! 

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Defiance19

A wonderful beginning to the collection Parker. Both wondrous.. Sailor's Lament...Hmm...that one, I'm drawn to.. 

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Parker Owens
6 hours ago, Defiance19 said:

A wonderful beginning to the collection Parker. Both wondrous.. Sailor's Lament...Hmm...that one, I'm drawn to.. 

 

Yes, I am drawn to that one, too. It took several tries to get it to start right, as there were a number of false beginnings and dreadful rhyme traps. But once it started, it poured right out...thanks very much for reading these, and for your comments.

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Parker Owens
1 hour ago, MCVT said:

Sailor's Lament, deftly done.  Thank you for these.

v

You’re most welcome. Thank you very much. 

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