May 31st

Poetry was this month's challenge. Given my extreme lack of knowledge of the subject, some studying was in order. For anyone curious about the wide world of poetry but not knowing where to start, I can highly recommend Stephen Fry's The Ode Less Travelled. A thoroughly informative and enjoyable read.

Below you will find my attempt at a Petrarchan sonnet, consisting of an 8 line octave introducing a theme, and a six line sestet providing a resolution. Both the octave and sestet follow specific patterns for the rhyming of the lines. Each line of the poem is written in iambic pentameter, making (hopefully) appropriate use of trochee and pyrrhic feet.

My poetry proofreader Geoffrey suggested to me that, given the nerdy subject matter of my sonnet, I should follow it with an explanation of my various nerdy references. Instead, I have simply added a few hyperlinks, for people to follow as they desire.


A NEW HOPE

Reliably the Soyuz rockets burn;
   A tortoise shuttling crew to outer space.
   The hare reluctantly concedes the race;
Its shuttle craft there never to return.
What comes of heartfelt dreams and lofty yearning?
   Have stars no purpose more than light and grace?
   When enterprise has given up the pace
Hope dwindles for discovery and learning.
But even yet, we reach for further heights;
   New rockets make their mark across the sky,
The rover's curiosity is sated,
   Ambitious minds prepare for virgin flights.
Though warp and phasers may be far from nigh,
   I dare to meme; my hope's not yet abated.