Excuses
To all the words I do not use,
Like conflagration and chartreuse,
It’s not because I do not care;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
Strange words like hagiolatry,
Which briefly means idolatry,
I simply cannot seem to snare;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
Some words are abstruse, recondite,
The meaning’s not always forthright,
And some have syllables to spare;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
To all the words I do not use,
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
The Challenge
Instructions on writing a Kyrielle sonnet:
- There are a total of 14 lines:
- Three 4-line stanzas.
- One non-rhyming couplet.
- Each line consists of 8 syllables.
- The first line appears twice: at the beginning and at the end, as the first line of the non-rhyming couplet.
- The last line of the first stanza repeats at the end of each grouping (a total of 4 times).
- Once you finish writing the first stanza, you only need to write 6 more lines! 🙂
- Rhyming schemes:
- AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB – This is the pattern of “Excuses“.
- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB – This is the pattern of “Catching Kisses”.
Now I will highlight the patterns.
To all the words I do not use,
Like conflagration and chartreuse,
It’s not because I do not care;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
Strange words like hagiolatry,
Which briefly means idolatry,
I simply cannot seem to snare;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
Some words are abstruse, recondite,
The meaning’s not always forthright,
And some have syllables to spare;
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
To all the words I do not use,
I’ve lost you in my head somewhere.
For those of you who have participated in the villanelle challenge, the Kyrielle sonnet is similar but easier to work with (hopefully). I will post your poems along with a link to your site and poem at the bottom of the challenge post (unless otherwise specified).
I would love to see what your wonderful minds can come up with!
If you like what you read, please follow the link in the title and “like” it there too. 🙂
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Haphephobia (Jashaél-Kyrielle Sonnet)
Pray stop wond’ring if I’m haphephobic
‘Cause to [be] touch[ed] sometimes makes me sick;
The root of my fear is far more devious:
I’m but a fool afraid of falling for you.
If you hang onto me like an opossum
And I feel your heart’s beat against my bosom,
I wouldn’t find it at all quite dreadful—
I’m but a fool afraid of falling for you.
I’m not the least anxious of your embrace,
Or of your arms tangled around my waist;
Holding hands doesn’t cause me to be nervous—
I’m but a fool afraid of falling for you.
Pray stop wond’ring if I’m haphephobic,
I’m but a fool afraid of falling for you.
2013 © Jashaél
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It would seem that you don’t want me,
though to others you flash that grin
to me you’re closed entirely
and so I’m left to look within.
Still stranded in a lullaby
that’s unapproachable by sin;
the world finds no use in my cries
and so I’m left to look within.
Respected only by those few
delighting in grumpy old men,
contented only out of view;
and so I’m left to look within.
It would seem that you don’t want me
and so I’m left to look within.
2013 © Sreejit Poole
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The color in my sky has drained,
Every brilliant color strained
As if by some fantastic sieve.
Fall’s reds and yellows gone. I grieve.
There’s black, and white, and cloudy gray,
No color to this wintry day,
No vestige left of orange leaves,
Fall’s reds and yellows gone. I grieve.
A touch of blue sky would be nice,
But all is bleak and cold as ice.
No sun will golden warmth conceive,
Fall’s reds and yellows gone. I grieve.
The colors in my sky has drained,
Falls reds and yellows gone. I grieve.
2013 © Soberflight
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The Morning Glory, a Kyrielle Sonnet
The morning glory is a weed,
Invasive vines and spread by seed,
It grows where you don’t want it to.
With flowers purple, white or blue.
It likes bright sun and climbing space;
In morning light it shows its face.
It blossoms sometimes at night, too.
With flowers purple, white or blue.
Its climbing vines are very green;
It sends out runners, some unseen.
I’ve come to like it, why can’t you?
With flowers purple, white or blue.
The morning glory is a weed.
With flowers purple, white or blue.
2013 © dflorack
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The winding trail that leads us there,
We walk together as a pair,
Enjoying this day fresh and new;
When and how the sun shines through.
The canyon, filled with grasses,
Color, shades of molasses,
Sunlit sparkling drops of dew;
When and how the sun shines through.
Wind, rain creates the key hole,
Gorgeous views you must behold,
White puffy clouds, sky so blue;
When and how the sun shines through.
The winding trail that leads us there,
When and how the sun shines through.
2013 © Sheila deLaneuville
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Alas the words don’t come to me!
My blank mind keeps me company
Not sure of what to write just now,
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
I would write of bikes and flowers
Maybe of grapes on their bowers
But no words come of trees or bough
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
But cows are not inspiring!
This is becoming alarming!
Oh Bastet give your cat meow!
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
Alas the words don’t come to me!
I’ll write about a spotted cow.
2013 © Bastet
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Memories are dishonest things,
Over time they grow warts or wings.
They can cause grief, or fights or fuss,
Sometimes those white lies comfort us.
That mountain that we tried to climb,
And found all too adventurous,
We climbed it in our mind’s own eye,
Sometimes those white lies comfort us.
That lover who showed us the door,
Whose love made us delirious,
We “dumped him and he begged for more”,
Sometimes those white lies comfort us.
Memories are dishonest things,
Sometimes those white lies comfort us.
2013 © Pooky
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Lift your head and stand up taller
To all of you afraid to try
From fear of failing or the like
I say to you do not falter
Lift your head and stand up taller
The word “can’t” should be forbidden
Bid it farewell and good riddance
Smile and learn, do not waller
Lift your head and stand up taller
Humble yourself and welcome change
Be open to divergent ways
Open your eyes, dare to wonder
Lift your head and stand up taller
To all of you afraid to try
Lift your head and stand up taller
2013 © Chelsea McBride
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Holy boldness, rolling boulders—
All the burdens from my shoulders,
Let God, who is my strength, dispatch—
Weak human striving ne’er will match.
Oh, wasted efforts, many years—
Such tailspins, daily, wailing tears.
Abide in Him, His peace unlatch—
Weak human striving ne’er will match.
Life’s boulders, then, rolled over me—
Why did it take so long to see?
His splendored revelation, catch?
Weak human striving ne’er will match.
Holy boldness, rolling boulders—
Weak human striving ne’er will match.
2013 © Caddo J Veil
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All the souls lost and downtrodden
The ones this world has forgotten
And the lepers left sequestered
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the children that are left scorn
Rejected for being lowborn
Crying utterances not heard
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the degraded and abused
Left with bodies beaten and bruised
Darkened hearts whose hope is fractured
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the souls lost and downtrodden
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (NKJV)
2013 © awomansaved
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To force change on things that matter
we need more than idle chatter
to halt our dissatisfaction
It is time NOW to take action
∞
we’ve become complacent sheeple
lets stand up for “We the People”
thin the flock by a small fraction
It is time NOW to take action
∞
whilst government is out to lunch
we can and should take the first punch
Revolution/ chain reaction
It is time NOW to take action
∞
no more burying heads in sand
rise up, revolt, just take a stand
together we can gain traction
It is time NOW to take action
∞
To force change on things that matter
It is time NOW to take action
2013 © Melanie Blackwell
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I paint freedom past restrictions,
Admiring the contradictions
My love sees creativity
Within my skill to remain me,
Gone are the forms I knew before,
Yet I’m still a dancer at core;
I dance with words now, to be free
Within my skill; to remain me,
He speaks of how I master forms,
Each rebellion nearly conforms,
There is a quiet artistry
Within my skill to remain me,
I paint freedom, past restrictions
Within my skill, to remain me.
2019 © Antonia Sara Zenkevitch
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Reowr 
Another awesome challenge- was playing with the last one today- then I got distracted by technicalities- I realize how little I know about formal poetry styles! Good encouragement to dig deeper!!! Great sonnet. I may have better luck with this one. Gonna try for sure. Thanks for the motivation.
I think you may find this challenge a bit easier. In hindsight I should have done the Kyrielle first. The most important thing is to have fun with the challenges! 🙂
Thanks- I’ll keep ya “posted”… Heehee
🙂
Great poem, so erudite, brings light, to my dark morn! I love how you do your challenges, very clear and easy to follow and I love the Kyrielle Sonnet too!
I find the Kyrielle easier to write than the villanelle. It allows for a bit more flexibility and wriggle room which is nice, but the villanelle is such a beautiful form. I’m glad you enjoyed my poem and find the instructions clear and easy to follow! 🙂
I too like the villanelle, but it is very tricky indeed. Your instructions are very clear indeed not to worry! 😀
I love your poem, dear Sonya! Hahaha! I can SO relate to it.
Oh, and I’m taking this challenge! 😀
I find it’s a great excuse, mainly because it’s true for me hehe. I just noticed that you wrote one! Will be there asap. 🙂
Cubby! I decided to change my line B.. You don’t have to recopy-paste! It’s okay. Just noting people. :))))))
It took me all of 2 seconds to make the change. It was a great change! 🙂
Oh, thank you so much, Sonya! Blessed night (or day)! 🙂
I just realized I skipped a rule! Hahahaha… THAT’s why you called it a Jashaél-Kyrielle sonnet. Hahaha… Oh, dear, dear… silly me. Skipping rules! I shall put that in the note. xD
Excellent poem. I wish I could write on demand. I only write when’s heads buzzing with stuff
I find I have to actively hunt down the buzzes most of the time. It’s nice when the buzz comes without too much effort though. 🙂
Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet's Library and commented:
Here Cubby challenges to write a Kyrielle Sonnet! Have a go!
I am not much of a poetry girl but i thoroughly enjoyed it. you’re good ! =)
I love non-poetry girls and boys! They make for the best converts. 🙂
Hahaha….good for you then, that i am here ! 😀
I wrote one of these and it was very fun! I loved yours!
Is it ok if I still wrangle the vilanelle for the previous challenge?
Of course! Challenges are always ongoing for anyone who wants to participate at any time. 🙂
I gave it a try…:http://theseekersdungeon.com/2013/09/24/as-the-moments-pass/?trashed=1&ids=3512
Loved it and added it to the challenge post! 🙂
Reblogged this on Poetry Perfected and commented:
Do any of you love writing poetry as much as this person does? If so, accept the challenge!
Ah Cubby…you are such a dreamer. I love that about you. I’ll stand back and watch from afar as the poets write their Kyriellian (I realize that that is NOT a word) sonnets. Sigh. Eat, play with catnip mouse, find sunbeam then nap.
I have most of that stuff scheduled in later today. I like to do my sighing when I’m writing though, so two stones with one pen. 🙂
That’s cool. I was wondering about the structure with your previous poem. 🙂
It’s nice to know these things sometimes. 🙂
Very good. 😉
Very happy. 🙂
I’m familiar with Partrachan, Italian, Shakespeare, and English Sonnets, but I confess I have not heard of the Kyrielle Sonnet. The pattern seems to work, though I notice the traditional volta has disappeared, so has the sestet. I swear I’m not a purest!
As an aside, congratulations on word choice. You obviously managed to dig these up from somewhere. 😀 Great stuff as usual.
I’m not sure about the volta in a Kyrielle Sonnet, but the only one with a clear volta that I have seen from my searches is one with 10 variations on the same sonnet, and the same volta was used in each variation. I have not seen the volta in other Kyrielle Sonnets I have read so far, although I most likely will with more exposure. I am learning everything as I go along, so if you see any mistakes I have made on something you are familiar with, please do not hesitate to let me know. 🙂
Thanks cubby, sounds good. 🙂
This is wonderful! If I wanted to participate in the challenge, do I send the poem to you in a comment or in an email? I’m not sure yet if I’ll be up to the task, but I wanted to check, in case I’m brave enough to try! 🙂
You can send it in a comment here or post it on your blog and let me know that it’s there. It definitely doesn’t hurt to try! 🙂
Unbelievable hard, you just made my brain spin into oblivion. You cause me brain damage. I dare not try this, but I like reading it. And I thought I was knowledgeable because yesterday I found out about the Haiku. What a poet you are.
Haiku is a good one to know! Some people become masters at writing just one form, and haikus are a great form to do that with. The more knowledge you have about less and less is what makes you an expert. 🙂
I like that last sentence, so my focus will be as of right know in mastering the short fiction craft.
That sounds like a wonderful mastery to have. 🙂
Reblogged this on This feeling won't go.
Loved and can relate to your sonnet! I’ve been accused of using ostentatious words, but I only use the words that mean exactly what I want to say. There are a lot of words I have no clue about (I had to look up what a volta meant because I never heard of it) and many I’ve learned and promptly forgotten because I had no use for them. Anyhow…here’s my challenge response:
http://soberflight.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/monochrome-a-kyrielle-sonnet/
If the word says exactly what you want to say, then why wouldn’t you want to use that word? It only makes sense to use what is available. Unfortunately, what is available in my mind tends to be difficult to access at times, and I also forget new things very promptly if not practical. Love your challenge response!
Another fantastic poem, Cubby! I love your affection for rarely used words. 🙂 I was excited because I was able to use the word “transmogrifies” in a poem recently.
Ah, that is a fantastic word. It reminds me of a frog being transformed into a prince. Glad you liked the poem! 🙂
Wow, I’m not even sure what a volta is. A german car? Very impressive poem, delightful and playful and erudite at the same time. I loved your comments, too. I like to hug my big words to me, but they slip out now and then, unintentionally. 🙂
“The volta, also referred to as the turn, is the shift or point of dramatic change…marks a shift in thought.” – Wiki
I like your guess better as it very much does sound like a German car. I really wanted to sneak in the word sesquipedalian but it is what it is. 😉
I could have google’d but guessing a german car gave me a giggle. A volta… hmm, I like it, but perhaps best in longer poetry.
Thank you for the new challenge. Here is my effort – http://heronthereeverywhere.us/?p=3206
And a wonderful effort it is! 🙂
Reblogged this on Scribes Ink. and commented:
we should try this maybe
Cubby, I have a Sonnet to submit (first ever). How do I get it to you; I apologize for not knowing.
Challenge:
The Key Hole: A Kyrielle Sonnet
http://wolfsongblog.com/2013/09/24/challenge-key-hole-a-kyrielle-sonnet/
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I had a really bad sleep attack (slept more than 10 hours). Love what you did with the challenge! 🙂
Oooh, you’re makin’ us work! I’ll put it in my stack of assignments…. in the meantime, you’re cordially invited to my party on Thursday. I’ll save you a seat, and a plate!
Thursday, let me see, I may be able to squeeze a party in between copious napping and grooming. I will bring my own catnip. 🙂
I’m brand new around here *waves* and just started writing poems a few days ago for the first time since school so this was rather a huge challenge – but I’ve given it a highly in-expert whirl… http://pookypoetry.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/memories/
Now I’ll go and take a look at all the far more responses the rest of you made to the challenge!
Haha, this is a little backwards, but Welcome! I totally understand about not writing poetry for so long and then all of a sudden jumping back into it. I’m so glad to see that you are writing again, and your writing is still wonderful even after years of disuse. I look forward to reading more of your work. 🙂
Thank you!
I’m hoping that if I write a poem a day I might get into the swing of it. We’ll see…
How long have you been writing poetry?
For about 7 months, 3 months long ago and 4 months recently with this blog. A poem a day is a great way to do get back into the groove. 🙂
I thought you were going to say seven years, not seven months. Wow!
Thus I am very unschooled in many forms/styles and am learning them as I go and teaching as I go also.
Sounds like a great way to do things.
🙂
Having just jumped into the blogging world I am finding a whole new group of people to delight in. This page, with your poems and the responses for example, truly restore my hope for the salvation of the English language and creative discourse. Bravo.
Welcome to the blogging world! I am happy to hear that you are enjoying the blogging experience. The pendulum will eventually swing back, I believe, towards more traditional forms. I can only hope that it will be sooner than later. 🙂
http://chelseamcbride.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=670&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
🙂
Love it! So happy you could squeeze in some time for writing! 🙂
Me too! Thank you for the introduction to another type of poetry. I really like this rhyme scheme.
Such a brilliant piece about words, I love words about words, you’ve given them life here! The form is beautiful. You tempt me with this challenge Cubby 🙂
Yes, it is a lovely form. I think you would do a wonderful job with this challenge. 🙂
Brilliant, Cubby.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
All so clever. Everyone’s. I love your one about ‘weird’ words. Finding words not previously known is one of life’s little scintillating pleasures, I find. 🙂 x
Weird words are just so hard to squeeze in naturally into a conversation. Thankfully, but unfortunately, I don’t tend to remember words I don’t habitually use. Sigh.
Love this…(I am redundant, I know) but I love this fun challenge and the beat to it AND can so relate to the poem. Words that I can’t even pronounce are rarely words I keep in my brain either and if I learn something, I regurgitate it in my words…so I often don’t talk too smart but I am smarter than I sound…ahaha:) blessings, Cubby.
Lol I totally understand what you mean about not talking smart. My brain doesn’t like to retain things it doesn’t deem necessary unless I browbeat it, and even then I can be hard pressed to remember. So glad you enjoyed this. 🙂
Loved Are They – A Kyrielle Sonnet
(Inspired by Cubby’s challenge)
All the souls lost and downtrodden
The ones this world has forgotten
And the lepers left sequestered
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the children that are left scorn
Rejected for being lowborn
Crying utterances not heard
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the degraded and abused
Left with bodies beaten and bruised
Darkened hearts whose hope is fractured
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
All the souls lost and downtrodden
Loved are they by the Good Shepherd
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (NKJV)
I love how you used this form to relay such a positive and uplifting message. So beautiful. 🙂
I’m late but I did one 🙂
Absolutely love it. It is wonderful. 🙂
I like a poem that deals with abstruse words. I delight in them. It makes my day when I learn a new word or two. Today I learnt ‘gurn’:)
Now that sounds like an interesting word! I think it is wonderful that you love to learn new words. Unless they tickle my whiskers, I tend to brush them off with a lint roller. 🙂
LOL 🙂 I always look up the meaning of an unfamiliar word and commit it to memory. I’ve done this since I was a teenager with the result that i may come across one new word every two days and I like to think I read challenging material 🙂
That is fantastic. I admire your tenacity and meticulousness. 🙂
This caught my eye because it reminds me of my name. Thank you for showing me something new. I’m going to have to try this out!
I can see the similarity with your name. Please drop a link here if you try it out! 😊
Most definitely. I’m always looking for new poetry styles and forms that are challenging yet still doable/interesting. I’ll leave a link when I come up with something!
👍