Poem A Day Challenge-A Shakespeare Word Poem

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Catherine Castle poetry, poem about jealousy, Shakespeare invented words, sonnets, WRiter's Digest 2015 Poem A Day challenge

I’m doing double duty today. You’ll find the last Poem a Day for April on today’s blog and if you’ll hop over to the SMP Author blog, I’m talking about taking a chance on peas. Yes, you heard it right peas. That green, round veggie most of us hated as kids.

Anyway, here’s today PAD poem. It’s from day 26, and the instructions were to create ba poem using a word invented by Shakespeare. Who knew Shakespeare invented words? Not me.  No wonder I couldn’t figure out what he was saying back in high school. I chose GREEN-EYED. And I made the poem a sonnet. It just seemed right to do so being Shakespeare inspired.

The Green-eyed Monster ©

By

Catherine Castle

 

For someone who is green-eyed there seems no

ogre in her. No hint of discontent

when he looks another way. Yet I know

what lies ‘neath jaded gold. I’ve seen the wrench

and jerk of hooded emerald irises

dart backs of roaming-eyed, unfaithful men.

She’s no different than all of us misses.

Protecting what we deem our own, we send

messages males don’t see to those who dare

encroach and poach and step into our space.

No jealous bones? Hah! Men and girls take care.

Great covetousness dwells in fair of face

and unprepossessing. We cannot flee

from the green-eyed monster of jealousy.

 

What about you? Did you know Shakespeare invented words?

Winter Holiday Sonnets

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Christmas poems, poems, sonnets, Winter poems

On December 19^th I guest blogged on Tamara Kraft’s Word Sharpener’s blog with a Christmas sonnet I had written this season entitled Christmas Magic. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed creating this particular poetic form and, consequently, wrote another sonnet a few days later. Of course, it hadn’t hurt that I had been semi following Robert Brewer’s November Poem A Day writing prompts and had the old poetry wheels oiled.

I thought since the holiday season ends tonight, I’d put the second of this year’s sonnets on the blog today. I’ve added the one from The Word Sharpeners, too. I hope you enjoy these sonnets.

Happy New Year, and keep writing in 2014. I know I plan to do so.

photo by Catherine Castle

                      Christmas Magic © 2013

By Catherine Castle

What magic lies within the stable door?

Is it the lullaby so sweetly sung,

a song that lifts the heart and comforts souls,

sung from mother’s lips to swaddled newborn son?

Is it the shepherds or the lowing sheep

or hov’ring angels stippled in starlight

who keep a watchful vigil while he sleeps,

tucked in a bed of straw to rest the night?

Though magic lies within all of these things

we think about on every Christmas Eve,

true magic lies within the shadows crossed

upon his blessed head where thorns aggrieve

and in his hands where Jesus took the blame

to stay my soul and purify my name.

photo by DRH

A Winter Sonnet .© 2013

By Catherine Castle

Whiteness lies ’round, thick and cold and silent,

save the howling winds that swirl pristine flakes

like twirling ballerina swans intent

on pirouettes ’round imaginary lakes.

Jack Frost has come to town, his hoary breath

blanketing earth and hearth and seas and trees

until snow lays aground like kudzo death,

smothering all within its path. No beast

or man dares break the whiteness while the storm

flies. All lie curled at fireside, snug beneath

grandma’s quilt, drink at hand, awaiting morn

when dawn dispels the dark and sunlight wreaths

day, casting diamonds down. A winter day’s

magical recompense for Jack Frost’s rage.