Sonnet Poetry

A sonnet is a poem with fourteen lines and follows a specific set of rules according to the sonnet type. There are several different kinds of sonnets, but in English the meters generally follow the iambic-pentameter. The main difference between sonnets is their rhyme scheme.

What is iambic-pentameter? It is a meter which is 5-foot long. A foot can be described by an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. An iambic-pentameter sounds like this: da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM

Image source: Public Domain

First: You need to decide what type of sonnet you wish to write. My favorite has always been the Shakespearean sonnet, so I'll give direction on how to do just that. Remember, the third quatrain generally introduces a sharp turn of events and the couplet should summarize or add a new look to the theme.

Second: You must choose a topic. The subject matter is generally about love or romance, but since this is your poetry, feel free to choose whatever you wish.

Third: Get your thesaurus out and start writing! In English, a sonnet should be written in iambic-pentameter-although in recent years, this has not always been true. Nonetheless, the Shakespearean sonnet is in iambic-pentameter. As well, the poem must be in a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g.

Fourth: Take your time! Although many poems have been written in a matter of minutes, sonnets generally take longer due to perfecting the form, choosing proper rhymes, and finding the right words for the iambic-pentameter.

Fifth: When you are finished, re-read it and edit it. When you've done that, find someone else to read it and make suggestions. You don't need to do exactly as they say, just be sure to take it into consideration.

Sixth: Enjoy your poem! If you are impressed with it, find more people to read it. If they are also impressed, submit it to e-zines and magazines! There are many out there, so why not?

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,
Injurious distance should not stop my way.
For then, despite of space, I would be brought
From limits far remote where thou dost stay.
No matter then although my foot did stand
Upon the farthest earth removed from thee.
For nimble thought can jump both sea and land
As soon as think the place where he would be.
But, ah, thought kills me, that I am not thought,
To leap large length of miles when thou art gone,
But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
I must attend times leisure with my moan,
Receiving naught by elements so slow
But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.

source: PoemofQuotes