NaPoWriMo Poem #12 - Sonnet

I never knew either of my grandfathers.  Both died before I was three, and a corner of me imagines the lost fishing trips and bits of wisdom missed.  Too, I have always felt sad watching a child attend a first funeral, wearing new black clothing for the first time.

Fishing

Mom bought me a black skirt for today.

My grandpa died.  I have to say goodbye.

Last week he took me fishing at the lake.

I see my tackle box and start to cry.

My grandpa put the worms on both our hooks.

He showed me how to cast and how to reel.

He taught me how to wait and what to keep.

I need him now to teach me how to feel.

If he were here, he'd hold me in a hug.

He'd wipe my eyes and tell me not to cry.

He'd say just what he said about the trout,

"Every creature born on Earth must die."

I smooth the wrinkles from my skirt and sigh.

Someday I'll fish with Grandpa in the sky.

© Amy LV

Today's poem is a sonnet, a fourteen line poem written in iambic pentameter (da DA da DA da DA da DA da DA).  It's in Shakespearean sonnet style, with three quatrains and an ending couplet.  I did, however, repeat one ending sound (long I) more times than a traditional sonnet would.  And you may notice that two lines have only nine syllables!  It's liberating to experiment with different shapes and forms of poetry, especially as it's so easy to fall into familiar patterns and rhyme schemes.  

Teachers - Every month, children's poet David L. Harrison hosts a poetry contest for both children (grades 3-12) and adults.  David chooses one word as a topic, and off the writers go.  You can read more about this month's word (spring) and how to enter here.  The cutoff date for this month's contest is April 23.
 
Now, don't miss today's Poetry Tag over at Poetry for Children!

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