That’s right, it’s time for my monthly foray into poetry. This month, Robin challenged us to attempt an English Sonnet on the topic of Masks. (See yesterday’s post for an introduction and definitions.)
I warned you yesterday: If you only love me for my funny posts, turn back now before it’s too late.
Cuz it’s all down the literary hill from here…
I seriously contemplated the Mask theme, since it could take so many forms. I’m happy with where I landed. It kinda spoke to me. Hope it does to you too.
***
My Burqa
I saw a woman walking on the street.
A burqa shrouded her down to her feet.
Enveloped head to toe in summer’s heat,
She crept anonymously ‘neath a sheet.
So sad for her that she was hid from view,
I almost missed the veil that hid me too.
But I could not ignore what I now knew:
I hide the self I am through what I do.
I try to shut out pain and douse its fires,
But with the pain I bury my desires.
What am I: Woman everyone admires?
Or Puppetmaster, distanced by the wires?
As I uncover what my God does see,
May I tear off my shroud and learn to be.
By Steph of the Red Clay Diaries
All rights reserved
***
For more poetry stylings by ordinary bloggers like me, visit Pensieve.
UPDATE 1:56 PM:
Suddenly realized that my rhyme scheme is NOTHING like an English sonnet.
How I got there from AB AB CD CD EF EF GG, I have no idea.
Leave it to me to create my own new poetry form. Wouldn’t want to be too cooperative, would I?
16 responses so far ↓
1 @ngie // Nov 7, 2008 at 12:07 am
Bravo! The final two stanzas spoke volumes to me. Wow.
2 thedomesticfringe // Nov 7, 2008 at 10:02 am
Wow! Am I impressed. That was great.
3 Rachel K // Nov 7, 2008 at 11:45 am
almost didn’t read. . .glad I did. Very good and made me think. . .
4 Daniel W. Slocum // Nov 7, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Nice.
5 Robin ~ PENSIEVE // Nov 7, 2008 at 2:30 pm
You kinda went the direction I did w/the mask theme…bravvvv-o. We do hide ourselves, at least in part, don’t we? When we begin to see ourselves as God sees us, objects of his love, it changes everything.
SO pleased you joined in this month…are you game for next?
6 Steph // Nov 7, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Thank you for all the positive feedback! I think I’m becoming addicted to poetry. Maybe Robin’ll assign limericks next time!!!
7 Mishelle // Nov 7, 2008 at 4:31 pm
That was very poignant, and I liked the style in which you wrote it.
Brava!
8 Karisma // Nov 7, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Beautiful poem!
9 Tonggu Momma // Nov 7, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I really enjoyed the last two lines… it made me stop and think, “what does God see in me that I don’t see?”
10 @ngie // Nov 7, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Dear BFF, I wondered about the AB AB CD CD EF EF GG, but the poem was just so lovely that I think it is ok if you broke the mold.
11 Gloria // Nov 7, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Beautiful poemSteph,
Love you, Mom
12 faemom // Nov 7, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Great poem
13 Charlie // Nov 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Hey Sweetie. Good job. BTW, you wrote in rhymed couplets. Shakespeare was known to use them too, so . . . no harm, no foul.
14 thefarmerfiles // Nov 7, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Well this was deep. When I was an extra on LOST I wore an abaya/burqa…I totally related to this in a very concrete way.
15 Karmyn R // Nov 8, 2008 at 1:02 am
Even though the rhyme scheme wasn’t quite English sonnet it was great!! (it probably fit something else).
16 Amber // Nov 9, 2008 at 12:41 am
Awesome! Love the way you took it. It does speak. We all try to hide ourselves, or at leasts parts of ourselves, right?
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