Today’s prompt via napowrimo.net is to attempt writing a curtal sonnet. The curtal sonnet is a variant of the classic sonnet, and has only 11 lines, instead of the usual 14. This form was developed by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and has been widely used in his poetry. In this variant of the sonnet, the 11th line is shorter than the ten that precede it.
I couldn’t pick out a definite rhyme-scheme here, but I noticed that the poet has used a lot of abcabc-dbcdc in his works. I’ve decided to stick to the same. I have chosen a peony as the motif for the poem, which, in some cultures, symbolizes both love and the hope of someone returning your affections for them. I hope I’ve done this form justice.
Please also go check out my bestfriend’s pages, Kittu’s Modern Mixtape, and Amour Infini. They’re both wonderful writers and their pages have so many amazing works that I know you’ll enjoy.
Happy reading! Xx
Somewhere amongst the books collecting dust
Sleeps a memory lovingly tucked away–
Nevertheless, untarnished and pristine;
Immense fondness that never did rust,
Saved in a single peony from a bouquet
That lies pressed in yellowing pages between.
A symbol of never-ending love from you,
I foolishly held on to ‘til this day,
Knowing how little it did ever mean–
“I hope you’ll return my affections too,”
Says the old peony.
~© Shubhangi Srinivasan.
Featured Image by Vika Strawberrika on Unsplash
The Shubhster Diaries 