Sonnets - Public - Hello Poetry

Mar 2018

Paul Jones

Fog

My eyes are heavy, drawn into the ground.
Moisture gathers, forms a drop on my nose.
Knackered, bowed and kneeling, I knit my brow
and wonder where the unknown, west road goes.
When I raise my hanging head, I feel for
the strength to rise up, stand and carry on.
I have looked inwards to see through the fog
because the signs that guide me have gone.
It is a struggle to walk in the mud,
Whilst cold and weary, with my clothes sodden.
My thoughts are hazy but a strong heart should
not fail me. My faith is not forgotten.
Aimlessly dragging hope alongside despair,
a feeling leads me, I do not know where.

10:00 - 03/09/17
Sonnet - 31 -

#sonnet #fog #struggle #uncertainty #faith #hope #strong #heart

Oct 2017

Paul Jones

Rapture of the Sunset

The sunset looks beautiful at twilight,
piercing through the underbelly of clouds,
the sky painting vehement, orange light
against the darkened faces of the crowd.
We listen to the sound of a sitar play
and feel the rapture of the beating drum.
Everything the spirit could want to say
is spoken by the motions fingers strum,
reverberating through the evening air,
and those who move to its smooth harmony.
I hold you close, sway with your gentle care.
True beauty is this rhythm, dancing free,
far from the dissonance a dark world cries,
an orange glow reflected in your eyes.

22:30 - 14/10/17
Sonnet - 30 -

#sonnet #rapture #orange #true #beauty #spirit #sky #painting #motion

Oct 2017

Paul Jones

Autumnal Dance

Where the Earth has etched out the Avon gorge,
I stand and look, from the edge of the downs,
see from the pale blues, where sky and land merge,
to a valley of green and ochre browns.
Under the midday sun, in silent awe,
I stand and look into the glowing distance.
Light dances, like I've never seen before,
the landscape shimmering with brilliance.
It humbles me, how I have happened upon
this panoramic and sublime expanse,
how it will stay with me, once I have gone,
how what I will remember is the dance.
Then I realise, the world, it sings a song.
That all I want to do, is sing along.

22:00 - 22/09/17
Sonnet - 29 -

#sonnet #august #rush #dance #sing #sublime #light #song

Sep 2017

Paul Jones

September

The blackberries on the railway path are ripe.
  The woodland birds are quick to take their share,
while purple fingers pick amongst the hype
  and rabbits hop in the hedgerow somewhere.
A cool wind spirals, rustling fallen leaves,
  carrying distant cries along its way
and bending the amber-tinged tips of trees.
  The sound of summer joys are in decay.
They soften, becoming calmer, quiet,
  like tired eyes in need of time to sleep.
There are some feelings I cannot forget
  and memories I will forever keep.
Meet me along the railway path, my dear,
  to breathe the mellow, autumn atmosphere.

19:00 - 07/09/17
Sonnet - 28 -

#sonnet #seasons #september #railway #path #autumn #atmosphere #nostalgia

Aug 2017

Paul Jones

Alignment

I feel the subtle changes in the air
  and alter so I might align with you.
We glide with one another, taking care
  to match and mirror each and every move.
Life dances. Sudden motions counteract
  the pause, bringing balance to where we're bound.
Everywhere, in the tracing of our tracks,
  we had left beautiful trails to be found.
The carrier of great things in the mind,
  our wings are lifted by the warmth of love.
We are two old souls that have been assigned
  to soar like eagles circling high above,
have come together with the rising sun.
  Home is a journey that has just begun.

- Sonnet 14 -

Original: - 13/03/13
Edited: 21:30 - 23/12/15
This Version: 00:30 - 18/07/17

This is about harmony and the perfect balance of complementary people, friends, partners... lovers. People who find their strengths capture each others weaknesses, raising one another to soar together in completeness. A dance of personalities, fulfilled by the mirroring of their emotions - their joys, their sorrows. Whatever form these relationships take, what they give, will always belong in the realms of love.

#dyad #harmony #love #life #sun #dance #home #journey #great #minds

Jun 2017

Paul Jones

The Space Between Us

The space between ethereal measure,
  the nothingness connecting our divide.
This lack of substance is surreal, obscure
  are old memories of sharing your side.
Ours is the spirit, by which we are bound,
  a realm we share where timelessness persists.
Where shapeless planes carry a formless sound,
  the self becoming selfless, unresisting.
The place you’ve gone does not belong to me
  and in the space between us, seeds are sown.
The tree of life sways softly with the breeze
  while you continue, beyond what I know.
Like wings that carry over to another shore,
  you are my leaf on the wind. I see you soar.

Sonnet - 18 -
Original version: 27/09/15
This version: 23/03/17

I can share this now.

Dedicated to my Father.
I wrote this sonnet for him and read it at his funeral.

It explore's the experience of still feeling deeply connected to something that is no longer. Even after their death, people still affect you and change you. Pieces to a puzzle are still being put in their place as we mirror ourselves and our actions to what they might have done. We learn about ourselves and the world from these reflections.

On an even deeper level, this sonnet explore's the ethereal connections we have to our ancestors and the past. Observing that, what is lost to us will be reborn, through it's decay, feeding new growth. The cycle of life.

          "I am a leaf on the wind.
               Watch how I soar".
                                               - Wash, Firefly

#sonnet #i #am #*** #leaf #on #the #wind

Jun 2017

Paul Jones

Rhythm Becomes Me

All is silent; still is the deep of night.
  I look below, cannot see what I feel
beneath my feet. One prevailing insight,
  known only in a sense, goes unrevealed.
I do not fear its truth, neither contest
  it does not know me. Within it, I stand.
An absurd sureness, an uninvited guest,
  has touched the base of what I understand,
now all mind and motion acts in tandem.
  I taste the salt of the air, feel the breeze,
the oceans rhythm becomes who I am.
  Rhythm becomes me, puts the mind at ease.
I feel the calm, hear the call of the night,
  look above, see stars amongst the moonlight.

Sonnet - 25 -
16:00 - 23/03/17

This sonnet is about being in harmony with your nature. It arose out of an interest in how an environment affects who we are and how we feel, even think and behave.

#rhythm #nature #sonnet #truth #night #moonlight #environment #harmony #ocean #stars #calm

Jun 2017

Paul Jones

Helm Wind

I climb. Although a harsh wind and sleet sweeps
  these hills, my temperament remains steady.
Although the path is treacherously steep
  I have been thoughtful, I have come ready.
The footfall here is few and far between
  and some who came to conquer, could not cope.
As I push on past the point where they've been,
  I look into a mist that holds my hope.
Joy lies beyond a helm wind of despair
  and must be battled with to be surpassed.
I will prevail here knowing that it's there.
  I’ll conquer fell and fall so I’ll be passed
to where tranquillity abounds below,
  throughout the valleys of the rain shadow.

Sonnet - 9 -
11:00 - 29/04/17

This is a revision of a previous sonnet. It's metaphorical and explore's why some people choose to do difficult things in life, despite having easier options.

#sonnet #helm #wind #joy #hills #climb #hope #journey #life #struggle

Jun 2017

Paul Jones

Northern Wild

Chills of the northern wild are rough to those
  who have no guidance or are ill-equipped
to scale the steep incline and climb exposed
  the high fells reach. No rock is lightly gripped
when every failure seeks to see me fall;
  No step is taken to be a mistake.
For what is needed to ascend this wall
  is slow to learn and hard to undertake.
Joy lies beyond the helm wind of despair
  and must be battled with to be surpassed.
So I’ll prevail here knowing that it's there.
  I’ll conquer fell and fall so I’ll be passed
to where tranquillity abounds below,
  throughout the valleys of the rain shadow.

Sonnet - 4 - 29/10/15

There is an improved version of this sonnet above called Helm Wind. This one doesn't seem to make as much sense but I won't delete it.

I think some of the lines here are a bit underdeveloped. At least they show my early struggle's with making sense within the difficult confines of iambic pentameter.

#sonnet #rhyme #wild #northern #tranquillity #joy #struggle

Jun 2017

Paul Jones

Reflections

The mirror becomes interesting when
  the face it's held toward is like a
reflection of the self. If it isn't, then
  their image is defeated, dulled and grey,
subdued in that they are of little worth.
  Thus, only with attention can you shine.
But what attracts also destroys, gives birth
  to collision. The reason I can’t find time
to show you how your colour can burn bright
  is because you're not willing to let me.
I know how the dark tones become highlights
  and feel you should't fear uncertainty.
Instead, realise the potential that’s there
  if you do not discolour what we share.

- Sonnet 1 -
Original: 09/01/13
Edited: 27/04/17

It was written after a tumultuous relationship. At the time of writing, I thought there was potential but it was all too shallow.

Writing this kick-started my interest in poetry. This is where it all started. My ambition then and now is to write about all my deepest ideas and strongest feelings.

#sonnet #reflection #colour #struggle #narcissism #relationship #mirror

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