Yes I know, the exception rather than the rule, and a matter for comment. It
might be interesting to look at a few of them, and see what actually does
make them sonnets rather than thirteen-line poems. *If we can find enough
examples that we can agree on as being true examples.
But to my mind, a sonnet is more than just the number of its lines, and I
suspect that this is what Kasper's feeling here, possibly Janet too. I mean,
not all four-legged animals are dogs -- there are differentials that mark
them out instantly from cats. Nor do the tailless Manx cat and the boxer dog
with the docked tail cloud the issue there.
I suspect it's something to do with the way they move and behave, but would
be interested to see what others think.
joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "andrew burke" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: Sonnets (Re: Sonnet for the Criminally Insane )
> There have been 13 line sonnets in history, y'know ...
>
> Andrew
>
>
> On 14/10/2007, Joanna Boulter <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Good questions, Janet, especially that last para.
>>
>> I have a habit of writing short poems which turn out to be 13-liners. A
>> surprising number of people say "Why don't you add another line, and then
>> it'll be a sonnet?" My answer is usually "It doesn't want to be one --
>> and
>> yes, I did ask it!" However, the real reason I don't is more likely that
>> I've said what I need to say in 13 lines and can see no point in adding a
>> 14th for the sake of it.
>>
>> Having said that, though, I can and do write sonnets.
>>
>> joanna
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Janet Jackson" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 2:52 AM
>> Subject: Sonnets (Re: Sonnet for the Criminally Insane )
>>
>>
>> >> Mine are non-metrical, non-rhyming (for the most part)
>> >> sonnets. The sonnet's a broad, deep river with interesting
>> >> eddies at its margins.
>> >
>> > OK, Hal, please would you educate us?
>> > What makes a poem a sonnet, and not just a 14-line poem?
>> > That it presents an opinion?
>> > That the lines are longish and all about the same length?
>> > That if you really work at it you read it with five stresses per line?
>> >
>> > I have a book somewhere that claims sonnets should have
>> > a "volta", a twist at about line 9, but I don't see that
>> > in this one.
>> >
>> > I suspect Kasper is more interested in why you bother labelling
>> > it a sonnet, what your purpose is in doing that.
>> >
>> > Janet
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> > Janet Jackson <[log in to unmask]>
>> > www.myspace.com/poetjj
>> > www.proximity.webhop.net
>> >
>> > Allegedly, some kid poet came over to Robert Frost at some gathering
>> > and
>> > introduced himself by saying "I'm a poet." Frost replied "That's a
>> > praise word. I'd wait 'til someone else called me that."
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Andrew
> http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
> http://www.inblogs.net/hispirits
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/aburke/
>
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