Thoughtful Thursdays: A Poetic Column

There are many different types of Sonnets, but the most common type of Sonnet is the English Sonnet, or the Shakespearean Sonnet. Last week we talked about rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter. How to know if the sounds, or notes resonated are the right tonality. But today, we will talk about creating that for yourself, and show you a truly modern day Sonnet from Kenneth O'Shaunnessey. Buckle up, this week will be a lot of fun.

Often when we are writing, we don't know where the road is leading us. We  are just the writer, and the thought will flow through us. Our energy is just a stopover along the way. But due to the schematics of the sonnet, this might be a good thing because of the restrictions within its iambic pentameter, we may have a different poem at the end than when we first imagined our poem to be going in.

When writing the Sonnet, we just have to begin with a line like this:

A little kitten spied a fish--

and respond to it like this:

Seafood for dinner, his secret wish

Whereas, this wouldn't make the most interesting Sonnet in the world, you can see that to create a Sonnet, you have 7 rhyming couplets of about the same length. The first three sets have a similar rhyme scheme, and the last couplet its own rhyme. For us nerdy English types that means it has a rhyme scheme pattern of: ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, and GG.

Back with us this week to demonstrate a modern, yet dark and edgy Sonnet is Kenneth O'Shaunnessey.

Kenneth A O'Shaughnessy was born in Syracuse, NY, and has lived in the Greenville, SC for slightly over half of his life. A fellow poet and homeschooling dad, Ken writes poetry on a daily basis, and it can be found at:

http://badbadboypublications.bandcamp.com/

Ken also writes a range of books for children. You can purchase the book he wrote with his son, The Boy With The Pig Nose at:

http://www.amazon.com/Kenneth-OShaughnessy/e/B008HPMJKE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1359693139&sr=8-1

Ordinarily on my site, I avoid anything dark or controversial. However, this sonnet of Ken's is so well written, I think it warrants being unleashed onto the virtual world. This is Ken at his best.

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Caution: The following poem deals with cutting and potential suicide. If you are sensitive to this subject, please stop reading here.

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To My Razor

O Razor with two-dimensional edge

I love the way you get under my skin

You're more exciting than a tow'ring ledge

You bring the pleasure of a secret sin

When your stripes on my flesh begin to bleed

I get the rush that living should provide

Meditate on the patterns of your deed

My secret worship that I strive to hide

It's pain and blood that make me feel alive

When healing is complete then I am dead

Scars left behind the priests to which I shrive

The penance I perform while I am bled

Someday the cut of pleasure will be deep

And healing will come with eternal sleep

Please feel free to share your own Sonnet in the comments section. Join in the conversation.

Laurie Epps is a non-fiction author, essayist, editor, and poet living in Anderson, South Carolina. A seeker of beauty, her is dream is to travel the world one day and tell their many stories. To read more of Laurie's stories visit her Tuesday column dedicated to writing at:

http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com