More on Unwinding – Sonnet
Yesterday, I posted about stressful Mondays, and the unwinding of that stress (or at least of some of it) by a view of sky and river. That post was somewhat comic (I hope), but I realized I also had written a sonnet, Shakespearean, of a slightly more serious nature on the same subject. The poem doesn’t actually deal with Mondays, but it does describe some of the unwinding offered by the flow of sky and water.
Post-Eden
Before the sky, a lovely pale, a boy,
tall on glistening grass, tosses a ball,
and I wonder why it is that joy
is not simply inhaled. Is it the Fall
that keeps us from feeling how it lines
the air we breathe? Is it that first loss
that keeps us toiling within the confines
of our skins, unheeding unhidden cost?
A soft haze, like a blessing, nestles on
the sea, mutes the horizon, brings the far near.
So much within reach. The brain wrestles on
its hardscrabble way, yet slowly fear
unwinds, diminished by sky, sea, view.
An inner hand makes the catch, more too.
(All rights reserved. Karin Gustafson)
(I am linking this sonnet to Gooseberry Garden’s poetry picnic. They have a very active and supportive poetry community.)
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, Stress, UncategorizedTags: Eden, Fall from grace, horizon, sea, shakespearean sonnet, sky, sonnet, Stress, the Fall, unwinding
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ManicDDaily 
June 27, 2011 at 9:01 am
humans and nature, we are one,
facing challenges and fears.
awesome reflection, have fun at poetry potluck!
June 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm
slowly fear unwinds, i like that!
June 27, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Thanks so much.
August 21, 2011 at 9:46 pm
“a soft haze nestles” I dig those words
I am not good with forms to speak on it, I liked reading it though 🙂
Here’s my offering: http://lynnaima.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/fragment-of-yesteryear/
August 22, 2011 at 6:09 am
I believe we must not live our lives in fear. One of my books of encouragement (not yet in print) is caalled “Peace Like a River”.
Here is my offering for this first Gooseberry Garden picnic:
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/08/21/this-eden/
August 22, 2011 at 12:22 pm
powerful expression, you can conquer fears if you want to.
🙂
August 22, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Is it the Fall
that keeps us from feeling how it lines
the air we breathe? Is it that first loss
that keeps us toiling within the confines
of our skins, unheeding unhidden cost?
Lovely lines in a powerful meditation, thank you.
August 23, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Thanks to you and all for your support.
August 23, 2011 at 11:56 am
love the sentiments in it.
super powerful entry.
Happy Poetry Picnic!
🙂
August 23, 2011 at 3:34 pm
I like this: “I wonder why it is that joy is not simply inhaled”
August 25, 2011 at 10:23 am
love it and glad to be of acquaintance thru gooseberry!
October 23, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Love your sonnet – lovely to meet you through Jingle (Gooseberry).
October 24, 2011 at 1:11 pm
carefully sought thoughts, love your word choices,
Thanks for sharing.
October 25, 2011 at 7:50 am
” Is it that first loss
that keeps us toiling within the confines
of our skins, unheeding unhidden cost?” Wow! Powerful wordplay.
July 11, 2013 at 11:05 pm
[…] I call it Post-Eden (II) because I have another Post-Eden poem that can be found here. […]