BULLETIN: I’ve finished my Italian Sonnet but have decided to wait until tomorrow (Sunday) to post. Builds suspense, don’t you know.
Hi everyone,
I started work on an Italian Sonnet (also called Petrarchan) today and it’s Steven Withrow’s fault.
He shared with me a delightful, well-turned example of his own and I immediately wanted to write one too. If I can finish my poem by tomorrow, I’ll post it then. Otherwise, I’ll share it when I can.
Ground rules for this form include writing the first eight lines (Octave) rhyming ABBA ABBA. The first four lines introduce the subject and the second four expound or interject an issue or problem.
The remaining six lines (sestet) of an Italian Sonnet are presented with a different rhyme pattern, which can vary. Mine will rhyme CDEDCE. These lines comment on the problem or offer a solution.
My subject is the honeybee. Wish me luck.
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 
Just as difficult as the rhyming is the keeping to iambic pentameter for each line.
We shall see how it goes, Joy. Stay tuned.
Come back Shakespeare, all is forgiven!
To bee or not to bee, that is the question . . .
How about this one for you, David
The little honeybee has buzz.
A taste for something sweet and runny,
Like a clown, she seems quite funny.
Body’s mostly stripes and fuzz.
She’s looking as she always does.
When she sells her cache of honey,
Her golden glow, bespeaks of money.
Why do we love her—just because.
But ask the little bending flower
Who gives up her hard-earned pollen
Whether she feels raped and fallen,
Or is filled with certain power.
There she is, all pollen laden
Virgin, violet violated.
By a bee much recreated,
Set aside, nor more a maiden.
It serves me right for sleeping in, Jane. But I’ll catch up before the day’s out. Thank you for the lively example! XO
I’m rendered speechless!
I know, Jeanne. I think they write faster in Scotland. Something about time zones.
Remember, Jeanne–I wrote an entire book of sonnets–THE RADIATION SONNETS. Its all about getting those sonnet muscles back. (Though I especially like falling into the line “virgin violet violated” which just (um) sort of happened.)
Jane still in Scotland and on THAT time.