The two, an odd pair of star-crossed lovers
Impatient children, still barely unfurled
But with hearts to give, ready to unfurl
*"Alike bewitchèd by the charm of looks."
Aye! Thoughts are hard to tame with simple looks
Hard to apprise when under strict duress
Lack of privacy: a butt for duress
Duty above privacy ruled their worlds
Impelled them defy their grand social whorls
Vast feelings duel with honor to kin
But love unseats all devotions to kin
Told one's heart was not theirs to give-- or else!
Isn't death the ultimate privacy thence,
For the odd li'l pair of star-crossed lovers?
***
© 2022 selmamartin.com
Day Twenty-Seven
on APRIL 27, 2022
We’re almost there, dear friends. Wow! Please check out the prompt.
Today, I’d like to challenge you to write a “duplex.” A “duplex” is a variation on the sonnet, developed by the poet Jericho Brown. Here’s one of his first “Duplex” poems, and here is a duplex written by the poet I.S. Jones. Like a typical sonnet, a duplex has fourteen lines. It’s organized into seven, two-line stanzas. The second line of the first stanza is echoed by (but not identical to) the first line of the second stanza, the second line of the second stanza is echoed by (but not identical to) the first line of the third stanza, and so on. The last line of the poem is the same as the first.
I struggled with this one, I did: I tried to follow the poet’s first Duplex, but falling
short, attempted a sonnet– a form I’ve come to like. But my brain is fried right now
and struggled even harder than with the Duplex– there’s rhyming, you see? So I
returned to the Duplex, and what you see is what resulted from my efforts.
Yay, Duplex– My very first!
Happy NaPo-ing.
Also, today I’m bold to add this one to the prompt at dVerse where my good friend, Ingrid is hosting Poetics: Homage to The Bard, and I could not resist this.
Ingrid says:
On this date in 1564, Shakespeare was baptised (his exact birthdate is unknown, though it is commonly thought to be 23.04.1564.) I could not let this date go by without hosting a Poetics prompt in his honour. I realise that many people are taking part in NaPoWriMo, and as such, may be feeling poetic burnout as this marathon poetry month draws to a close. With that in mind, I will keep this prompt simple, and amenable to adaptation to fit the other prompts of NaPoWriMo + + +
Fellow poets, I invite you to click on the link. They have fantastic prompts too.
Oh, and if (if) you failed to notice, my poem is *Romeo and Juliet: The cosmically
misaligned star-crossed lovers: a portent of fated ends.
Banner and Buttons, Maureen Thorson.
Thanks so very much for reading my words. I appreciate you.
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Fantastic! Brilliant, Selma 💕🙂
My dear, Harmony. Your timely comments put me in a good place. Thanks so much Be well, deary.
Dear one, this one such impatient and weary child of rhyming and metering, is grateful that you are showing up to show us that showing up is not a must show but a must hows 🙂
You’re a gem, Gloria dear. And I’m so happy to have had another chance to touch base with you here again. May our paths cross again. Keep going, my precious. xoxo
You’ve captured the crux of it. (K)
It’s encouragement like this that keeps me here, K. Thanks so much. xoxo
I do like that image of ‘children barely unfurled’. And the sustained Romeo and Juilet metaphor.
Jane Dougherty, that you came to look is an honor already. The comment, precious indeed. Thanks so much. I bless you. Happy Writing.
Have a fruitful poetry year, Selma. It doesn’t stop with April 🙂
You’re so right. Doesn’t stop. You too, Jane. Have a fruitful year ahead. Xoxo
xxx
Oh, for all the star-crossed lovers world over. Is that how it should end? Nicely done.
Yes, Sonia, sweet pea: for al the star-crossed lovers the world over, indeed. May they have better luck than these two– this is NOT how it’s supposed to end– no way, but these two were misaligned cosmically to begin with. And with all the hurdles they had to face, they were not mature enough to cope. Their impatience ended it too soon. Way too soon.
Be well, Sonia. Today is the last day. xoxo See you later.
Selma, the spirit of the play captured beautifully!
Thrilled you thought so, sweet P. Happy writing.
I love how well you had captured the love affair between the two teenagers… i realize a story like this can happen today as well.
Thanks for the comment, Bjorn. I appreciate the visit. xoxo
You did really well Selma, that’s a very difficult form 😳
It was difficult, Deb. I can’t say its favorite material. Thanks so dearly for reading and commenting. I appreciate all your visits. xoxo
So, Orrrorrro? I think so. Keep going…
Is that a vote Selma??? I’m going to count it, ok?
It’s a vote dear one. I vote Orrorrro tops. It’s genius!
Wow! Selma, you wrote Romeo and Juliet in a duplex sonnet. It’s amazing how one prompt makes us each go different ways.
Thanks, Smitha dear. Yes, indeed– the amazing part is that! I’m also mesmerized just thinking of how we’re borderless here. Amazing. Happy writing, dear one. I bless you.
nailed it!
You’re sweet to say that. Thanks, Krissy. Blessings
Well done, Selma – you really rocked both prompts! 💖
I’m so happy to get this seal (of approval) from you. hehe. Indeed I am. Thanks, Ingrid. Now the end is upon us, will yours end here as well? I’ll drop by for a visit, I’m sure Ive missed out. Blessings.
It will, Selma – I am ready for a break 🤪
Ah, Sonnets of any form not my forte. Well done. Reminds me of all the Royal stuff going on in the news these days and the changes about who can marry who etc.
Not your forte– totally understand, Jules. The more reason to love your visit. Thanks. And about the Royals… I’m not up to date there. There’s always drama… Stay sweet. I wish you miracles.
I think there is much in the news because of the Queens age. I could do without all the ‘gossip’. I did see a piece about how she used the royal gardens for tea. That was quite nice.