Visser Sonnet

I am exceptionally glad to add this Sonnet form to my list.
Insofar, as I know it is the only sonnet form to be created by one of the States’ Poet Laureates.

Visser Sonnet – Internal rhyme only
Octet + Sestet
-Usually Iambic Pentameter
Rhyme scheme (internal only)    abbaabba cdecde
Originated by Audrae Visser,
Poet laureate of S. Dakota, 1974-2001

I found no specific column mandated for the internal rhyme
Apparently Volta is up to the poet.

Example Poem:
With Hidden Rhyme     (Visser Sonnet)

A Visser Sonnet may be hard to find,
or recognize when you do, for the rhyme
is hidden from your view except when read
aloud, then it will play.  It’s internal
and nicely tucked away inside each line.
It could be blank verse too, if iams rule,
for while that form if true, denies end-rhyme
it’s mute about the way one  acts inside.

Yet Visser earned our praise as she was South
Dakota’s poet queen- well, laureate,
the only one of such to make this mark.
Let us our glasses raise in toast and write
a sonnet now to bring this latent form
to life and add a touch of difference.

© Lawrencealot – November 2, 2012

Visual Template:

Miltonic Sonnet

The Miltonic Sonnet is:
a quatorzain, enjambment is used to tighten the sonnet,
leaving the 14 lines unbroken by stanzas.
metered, iambic pentameter
rhymed, uses the Petrarchan rhyme scheme abbaabbacdecde.
pivot evolves slowly after L8, or does not,
composed around the themes of moral issues and political insights.Example Poem:Arrogance

The arrogance some wear is but a cloak.
A garment of disdain. Quality men
are known by deeds alone. No smirks and then
derisive sneers or swipes at other folk.
For arrogant, what do they shield? A joke?
Was some success so fine and rare that when
it happened it felt like a big amen?
They must now remind self they shed their yoke?
Is arrogance the aegis of their scute?
I fathom no reward or pleasure gained
from haughtiness itself. If not a source
Of cheer then it’s protection, resolute.
Abide their snideness, smile and stay your course
They belittle none… Worth is absolute.

(c) Lawrencealot – April, 2012

 
 
Visual Template:

Italian or Petrarchan Sonnet

An Italian sonnet is composed of an octave, rhyming abbaabba, and a sestet, rhyming cdecde or cdcdcd, or in some variant pattern, but with no closing couplet.

Usually, English and Italian Sonnets have 10 syllables per line, but Italian Sonnets can also have 11 syllables per line.

The Italian sonnet was created by Giacomo da Lentini, head of the Sicilian School under Frederick II. Guittone d’Arezzo rediscovered it and brought it to Tuscany where he adapted it to his language when he founded the Neo-Sicilian School (1235–1294). He wrote almost 300 sonnets. Other Italian poets of the time, including Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) and Guido Cavalcanti (c. 1250–1300) wrote sonnets, but the most famous early sonneteer was Petrarca (known in English as Petrarch).

The Italian sonnet includes two parts. First, the octave (two quatrains, or two groups of four lines), which describe a problem, followed by a sestet (two tercets, two groups of three lines), which gives the resolution to it. Typically, the ninth line creates a “turn” or volta, which signals the move from proposition to resolution. Even in sonnets that don’t strictly follow the problem/resolution structure, the ninth line still often marks a volta by signaling a change in the tone, mood, or stance of the poem.

In the sonnets of Giacomo da Lentini, the octave rhymed a-b-a-b, a-b-a-b; later, the a-b-b-a, a-b-b-a pattern became the standard for Italian sonnets. For the sestet there were two different possibilities, c-d-e-c-d-e and c-d-c-c-d-c. In time, other variants on this rhyming scheme were introduced such as c-d-c-d-c-d.

The first known sonnets in English, written by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, used this Italian scheme, as did sonnets by later English poets including John Milton, Thomas Gray, William Wordsworth and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Note: In May 2013, I noticed that our own resident sonneteer,  Eusebius had just written a series of Italian Sonnet that did have ending couplet rhyme.  Investigating further I found that C.A.Smith also used that rhyme pattern at least once, in his poem “Belated Love”.   Do dear poets, you are free to use ANY sextet rhyme pattern.
Following quote provided by Eusebius:
Poets adopting the Petrarchan sonnet form often adapt the form to their own ends to create various effects. These poets do not necessarily restrict themselves to the strict metrical or rhyme schemes of the traditional Petrarchan form; some use iambic hexameter, while others do not observe the octave-sestet division created by the traditional rhyme scheme. Whatever the changes made by poets exercising artistic license, no “proper” Italian sonnet has more than five different rhymes in it.

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Italian Sonnet)

Should you be moved to speak in anger, dear,
I ask that first you test your words alone.
If anger stems from blunder of my own
You’ll want to be assured your meaning’s clear.
Harsh words once thrown will travel like a spear.
We’ve both before said words we can’t disown,
They’re best unsaid than trying to attone.
The thoughts that form those words might disappear.

So hold those words for later; don’t despair
There’s nothing risked delaying words that grate.
My love, use whispers closely late tonight.
I’ll listen to your words- you know I’m fair.
So love, allow your anger to abate.
I love you dearly; I will make it right.

A visual Template

Channing’s Sonnet

The distinctive feature of the sonnets of 
William Ellery Channing (1818–1901) 
seem merely to be that he uses an octave plus two tercets.
I have found multiple rhyme patterns, here is template showing two.

Rhyme patterns: abbaabba cde cde or abbaacca dee dff

Example poem:

Tell Me of Your Anger in Whispers (Channing Sonnet)


Should you be moved to speak in anger dear 

I ask that first you test your words alone. 
If anger stems from blunder of my own 
You’ll want to be assured your meaning’s clear. 
Harsh words once thrown will travel like a spear. 
Is it essential now that blame be found; 
will such proceed toward a common ground? 
The thoughts that form those words might disappear. 

So hold those words for later; don’t despair 

for now. Wait ’til your anger can abate. 
There’s nothing risked delaying words that grate. 

I’ll listen to your words- you know I’m fair. 

My love, use whispers closely late tonight. 
I love you, honey; I will make it right. 


Visual Template: