Jan 18, 2017 | Italian Sonnet, Sonnet, The Work of Greater Minds
The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now...
Jan 9, 2017 | Grief, Italian Sonnet, Sonnet, The Work of Greater Minds
In dim green depths rot ingot-laden ships; And gold doubloons, that from the drowned hand fell, Lie nestled in the ocean-flower’s bell With love’s old gifts, once kissed by long-drowned lips; And round some wrought gold cup the sea-grass whips, And hides lost pearls,...
Dec 31, 2016 | Aging, Italian Sonnet, Sonnet, The Work of Greater Minds
Youth gone, and beauty gone if ever there Dwelt beauty in so poor a face as this; Youth gone and beauty, what remains of bliss? I will not bind fresh roses in my hair, To shame a cheek at best but little fair,– Leave youth his roses, who can bear a thorn,–...
Dec 27, 2016 | Advent, Gus Stevens, Italian Sonnet, Mom, Sonnet
A mother’s delight and child’s torment: all those gifts beneath the glittering tree. On Christmas Eve, a singular present, always the smallest, she’d let us tear free from its bright paper. The rest must remain secrets for one more sleep: still a...
Dec 11, 2016 | Advent, Gus Stevens, Sonnet, Victorian Sonnet, Winter
There were a hundred years of snow before the human children came. Years of frost and chain and shadow when nights were long and only flame could keep away the grasping cold. The creatures hoped; but then the boy traded their hopes for promised gold and forfeit life...
Oct 11, 2016 | Erotic, Italian Sonnet, Love, Sonnet, The Work of Greater Minds
Lying asleep between the strokes of night I saw my love lean over my sad bed, Pale as the duskiest lily’s leaf or head, Smooth-skinned and dark, with bare throat made to bite, Too wan for blushing and too warm for white, But...