As part of my application, I decided to try my hand at a sonnet. Having never written one before, I though it would be interesting to tie my hands with strict structure. In general, a sonnet it a fourteen line poem. The word "sonnet" comes from the Italian word for "little song". Although the structure and meter have changed over time, most of them follow some sort of strict structure and rhyme scheme.
Shakespeare wrote many sonnets, and is the reason most Americans are familiar with the term. He wrote in iambic pentameter, which meant that syllable stressing must also follow a strict form in each ten syllable line. The more common structure for sonnets are ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and ABBA CDDC EFFE GG, but the list goes on. Some not only contain quatrains and a couplet, but triplets as well. Remember that the letters represent rhyming words at end of lines. A quatrain is a group of four lines, and a couplet is a group of two lines.
I wanted to utilize a structure, but also give it a feel of our town's relaxed style. I tried to keep ten syllables per line, but did not worry about making it "iambic pentameter". I massaged the structure so that a Canaveralean Sonnet would be defined by the structure of:
ABAB CDDC EFEF AA
It is more relaxed and allows you to explore some unique phrasing. Also, the first line and ending lines rhyme, reminding us of the two shorelines (river and ocean) on the sides of our town. I utilized two of our town's sayings: "Sun, Space, and Sea" and "The Space Between" to demonstrate community pride. Cape Canaveral feels like home, and so having a structure inspired by its "homeyness" seemed appropriate.
Shakespeare wrote many sonnets, and is the reason most Americans are familiar with the term. He wrote in iambic pentameter, which meant that syllable stressing must also follow a strict form in each ten syllable line. The more common structure for sonnets are ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and ABBA CDDC EFFE GG, but the list goes on. Some not only contain quatrains and a couplet, but triplets as well. Remember that the letters represent rhyming words at end of lines. A quatrain is a group of four lines, and a couplet is a group of two lines.
I wanted to utilize a structure, but also give it a feel of our town's relaxed style. I tried to keep ten syllables per line, but did not worry about making it "iambic pentameter". I massaged the structure so that a Canaveralean Sonnet would be defined by the structure of:
ABAB CDDC EFEF AA
It is more relaxed and allows you to explore some unique phrasing. Also, the first line and ending lines rhyme, reminding us of the two shorelines (river and ocean) on the sides of our town. I utilized two of our town's sayings: "Sun, Space, and Sea" and "The Space Between" to demonstrate community pride. Cape Canaveral feels like home, and so having a structure inspired by its "homeyness" seemed appropriate.
Canaveralean Pseudo-Sonnet
In the space between the Sun, Space, and Sea
Amidst the spectral mist above the beach
Somewhere between the universe and me
Lies the peaceful hopeful realm we beseech
Finding comfort beneath the sun-kissed cloud
Spoonbill, ibis, and skimmer dance and play
Turtle tracks from sea oats where eggs now lay
Nature’s song enhanced, children laughing loud
Familiar lands and friendly faces smile
Bike paths hear clearly the beach’s mild hum
In parks, her charms majestic do beguile
She invites all, sounding her quirky drum
In the space between the Sun, Space, and Sea
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