Shakespearean Sonnets & Disc Golf

Two topics I hadn't anticipated covering in conjunction here... Mainly because I don't like writing about myself and my life for creative writing purposes. I don't mind writing about my own life as a log, but in terms of creative writing: it is really frustrating. I backed myself into this one, though. We were asked, for my Creative Writing course, to describe a recent event. Naturally I chose to describe the tournament I played in on the first. I did this without knowing that our next job would be to write a sonnet about whatever it was that we described. So, what I'm going to do here is write the sonnet on here. We'll see how poorly it comes out.

Okay lets see... first thing's first, what is a sonnet? I know its a poem, time to look up what exactly a sonnet is, or else I'll be rhyming a whole lot of ab ab lines. According to a website conveniently titled "What is a Sonnet?" a Shakespearean Sonnet uses an abab cdcd efef gg rhyme scheme. Fairly simple. I've had the first line, or some variation of it, in my head for an hour or so...

There is some measure of poetry within a perfect snap

Not a bad start... wonder where I can go from there.

There is some measure of poetry within a perfect snap,
powered through by legs and core, driven by perfect form.

So I'm sitting here because I can't come up with a word to rhyme with snap. I'm bad with poetry, can you tell? I also hate to repeat words, so I'm going to have to get that second 'perfect' out of there.

There is some measure of poetry within a perfect drive,
powered through by legs and core a whiplike arm flies by.
I require remarkable to achieve that for which I strive,
a parked disc beneath a basket or at the least pin-high.

To succeed I need to focus on every single detail,
to be perfect I must go deeper beyond my concentration.
It takes a measure of instinct in order to prevail,
a proclivity for power and pop to facilitate domination.

This reads so awkwardly... I don't like it. I hate poetry. I really do. Why can't I just write some fiction? Or a poem that is about something epic, something that isn't disc golf, right? Oh well, six lines. At least I already know how I'll finish this travesty. *le sigh* The last two lines will be simple.

So, third quatrain...

Disc is more than just a snap bestowed by the Gods,
but also it is beyond technique given by hours in the field.
A combination off the tee will bring others to applaud,
you can't not love having a powerful drive to wield.

With all of this one would think I could win frequently but,
one of these days I'm really going to have to learn to putt.


*phew...*

There is some measure of poetry within a perfect drive,
powered through by legs and core a whiplike arm flies by.
I require remarkable to achieve that for which I strive,
a parked disc beneath a basket or at the least pin-high.

To succeed I need to focus on every single detail,
to be perfect I must go deeper beyond my concentration.
It takes a measure of instinct in order to prevail,
a proclivity for power and pop to facilitate domination.

Disc is more than just a snap bestowed by the Gods,
but also it is beyond technique given by hours in the field.
A combination off the tee will bring others to applaud,
you can't not love having a powerful drive to wield.

With all of this one would think I could win frequently but,
one of these days I'm really going to have to learn to putt.


We'll see if that's enough for an A. Somehow, I doubt it.

[Scott Aikens]

Oh, yeah. They're called "quatrains". I had forgotten that.

Thanks for momentarily taking me back to high school English class.

[Scott Aikens]

Keep in mind each line of a sonnet should contain ten syllables, measuring as five two-syllable beats. The rhythm is called iambic pentameter.

("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")

Your stanzas are correct, though: three stanzas (each containing four lines) followed by a two-line stanza acting as a summarization of the previous twelve lines.

Interesting exercise. Maybe I'll give it a try myself later and post it here.

[Jayne]

haha. good work Woj! Tough subject for sure for a sonnet. My bro had to write one the other day for his poetry class!