Sonnets: Some think the Greatest Poetry Form

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Tinge Of Purple Rests Within My Heart

A tinge of purple rests within my heart
Soft touches of a tired old soul.
Now pulling mightily on a heavy empty cart
Often my world seems to be a lump of coal.

I hear thumps of acorns falling down
That majestic oak sheds its great seeds.
Old age has me feeling like a sad clown
Longing to ride yet again, runaway steeds.

Tis winter! Culprit bringing its bleak cold
Seeds resting secure in the frozen ground.
Spring will come and out they come so bold
And yet again life comes right on around!

Nature teaches me that it will be alright.
Life and death matches, like day and night!

Robert J. Lindley, 1-26-2016


Note: My muse woke me at 4 am to write this.
I told her no but she nagged until I rose to
do the deed. I' tell ya , I want to strangle her
sometimes but then at other times love her to
death..
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Same poem now edited to meet the sonnet ten syllable count . I prefer the first version myself. -Tyr

Tinge Of Purple Rests Within My Heart

Tinge of purple rests within my tired heart
Soft touches of a heavy old soul
Now pulling on my heavy empty cart
Often my world seems to be lumps of coal.

I heard thumps of acorns falling on down
That majestic oak sheds its little seeds.
Old age has me feeling like a sad clown
Longing to ride again, runaway steeds.

Tis winter! Culprit bringing its bleak cold
Seeds resting secure in the frozen ground
Spring will come and they rise out very bold
Yet again life comes right on around!

Nature teaches us, all will be alright.
Life and death matches just like day and night!

Robert J. Lindley, 1-26-2016

Poem Syllable Counter Results
Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 107

Note: repetition of the word "heavy" is intentional and used for effect, both the old soul and its life's burdens are currently found to be very heavy to bear. Norm be damned says I. Poet's prerogative quite aptly applied.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Against That Pale And Ashen Cold Gray Sky

Dark colors of oak branches spreading high,
beds of Autumn's fallen leaves are resting.
Against that pale and ashen cold gray sky,
Nature is contemplating and testing.

Winter waits its rebirth in sweet repose,
Passing days yield to time's eternal ways;
Clouds cast forth water from heavenly hose
Soaking high forested hills, filling its bays.

Man and beast alike face Nature's splurges-
Instinctively both yield to its power,
While embracing primitive deep urges,
Race for safe cover in which to cower.

Tall oaks grace this fantastic and harsh view
Nature moves forward collecting its due!

Robert J. Lindley, 1-28-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 95

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

In A Darkened Attic Room

In attic room, one window tightly shut,
Dwells broken heart hidden from future pain.
Bare as a savage brute's empty hut-
Condemned to no hope, no future, no gain.

Where rests such perilous fear darkness reigns;-
Shattered dreams give rise to dark illusions.
Hope rejected brings on its most wicked stains,
Evil held, births its blackest conclusions;
Grown in decay until nothing remains,
Yet sad hope is better than none at all.
True love waits the bliss it always contains,
Treasures gifted, one only has to call.

If one ray of love's light but filters in
Love brings life and its promises again.

Robert J. Lindley, 1-30-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 18 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 103

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Future's Promise Of Hope Stirs In Us All

Within epic sea of man's greatest quest
deep mourning crying for love ones now dead.
Amidst usual pains laid on each head,
cometh dark trials of the severest test.

Future's promise of hope stirs in us all
with stronger courage to race in life's train.
Precious, sweetest memories we recall,
brilliantly stored within each clever brain.

Should we obey an eternal request
heed its solemn and very wise advice.
Trusting truth that good is always the best,
holding faith in our God will then suffice.

What of gravest doubts at the journey's end?
Pains of deceased family or best friend?

Robert J. Lindley, 1-31-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

Note: Sonnet writing is my new therapy .
As I find it occupies my mind, brings joy and may even serve to help others! At least, thats my wish..
This one addresses doubts even in the midst of an acknowledged strong faith...
In this write, I challenged myself to write this hitting my "perfect 100 words" per sonnet goal.
Succeeded in my first draft.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Earth Will Be Inherited By The Meek


Chiseled stones her castle walls did confine
bars on windows let in a light breeze.
Daylight shown as one bright desirous line,
she imagined freedom outside with ease.

Many years had passed since her king had died
she thought often of their sweetest, young days.
How falsely accused, his vassals had lied
about deep treason and his evil ways.

Now alone, a queen with no royal crown
expecting her own quick death every week.
Happily she laughed, smiled and wore no frown,
earth will be inherited by the meek.

One sad morn he came in with his sharp blade
Ending that faithful life her god had made!

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 107

R.J. Lindley
Oct. 23rd 1986

Note: Written from a dream, I saw that beautiful face
, no tears but she smiled and spoke. Told me a secret,
life is not what you see but is what your soul longs
to hear..... just three words...... three little words..

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

" Seek Within Thy Own Merciful Soul's Light"

Found this huge box from a far away place,
Inside many strange and magical things,
Chiseled in stone, words to Amazing Grace
Music blaring forth, what Love of Life brings-
Deeper down, echoes of historic lights;
Great symphonies from our enlightened past,
Bright moons illuminating darkest nights-
As great shining stars whizzed on by so fast:
Joyous cries found my eager willing ears:
" Seek within thy own merciful soul's Light"
Abandoning grave doubts and shallow fears,
Ignore sneering whispered taunts in the night;
All happiness rests in Hope, Truth and Love
Leave this box, instead look for God above.

Robert J. Lindley, 2-05-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 14 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

NOTE: An uplifting sonnet , perfect tens,
perfect 100 words.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Seeking Out Nature's Pristine Wooded Views

In forested glen, deep serenity rests
take your aching soul there for hours to hide-
Away from this hectic world's many tests,
Solitude, medicine for this world's ride.

Seeking out Nature's pristine wooded views
one may find treasure for a wounded heart.
Life is so hard, so best you dare to choose
a hidden spot to recharge and restart.

Remain quiet, listen as the woods speak;
as its critters may scurry to and fro.
Look behind this curtain, taking that peek,
in awe you will see a majestic show!

Nature's wonders, man has yet to see all.
To free your spirit, just answer its call.

Robert J. Lindley, 2-06-2016


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 105

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Second draft--

Under Slow And Sinking, Pale Half-Moons
(Number one, of Debbie's 6/6 challenge)

Angel of soft and much wanted touch,
she delivers serenity in tow;
Can this sunken vessel proclaim as much-
agree, lifting pain from my fleeting soul!

Will this humble plea strike upon your heart;
shall from it, you then gift joyous tunes?
Kill my spirit, force another sad start-
how under slow and sinking, pale half-moons?

My angel of my heart's heated desires;
could you ever prepare that blessed meal?
By roasting delicately on hot fires-
would not your gentle hand my soul then feel?

Hearing now this sad and desperate plea,
Fearing not, your hand reach to comfort me?

Robert J. Lindley, 2-06-2016
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Third draft---

Beneath A Slow Sink Of Half-Moons
( Number One, of Debbie's 6/6 challenge)

An angel of soft and wanted touch,
she delivers, serenity, in tow;
Can this sunken vessel proclaim as much,
agreeing lift pain from my fleeting soul!

Will this humble plea strike upon your heart,
shall acceptance grant gift of joyous song?
Chilled my spirit, dreads another false start-
corralled beneath a slow sink of half-moons?

My angel, my heart, I've have deep desires,
could you deny that ever blessed meal
by roasting my frailty upon hot fires-
would your loved healing hands then my soul feel?

Hearing now this saddened desperate plea,
Fearing not, your hand reach to comfort me?

Robert J. Lindley, 2-07-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

1ST Note : Perfect tens, perfect 100 words

2ND Note: A new sonnet dedicated to this excerpt--

In Section LXIX of In Memoriam, Tennyson dreams an
allegorical angel who may or
may not be the transformed Arthur Hallam:

I found an angel of the night;?
The voice was low, the look was bright;?
He look’d upon my crown and smiled:??

He reach’d the glory of a hand,?
That seem’d to touch it into leaf:?
The voice was not the voice of grief,?
The words were hard to understand
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First draft----
Hearts In Shadows Now Keeping Us Apart
(Number two, Debbie's 6/6/6 challenge)

Lost treasures, are my heart in disrepair.
Disrepair of this longing soul's sweet fair.
Fair was my life before she sent her pains.
Pains, that wrapped my spirit in blackest stains,
Stains so dark, our world plunged in decline,
Decline blasted our love that was so fine-
Fine cuts slashing into my bleeding streams,
streams flowing into evil horrid dreams.
Dreams hold my future in falling decrees,
decrees forcing my last desperate pleas.
Pleas of this breaking heart in its last throes,
throes of lost love in hard, grief hitting blows.
Life once was truth beating in our twin hearts,
heart shadows now tearing us into parts.

Robert J. Lindley, 2-07-2016

Form- Chain sonnet

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 14 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 106

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First draft
Poem number three, Sonnet Acrostic
Debbie's 6/6/6 challenge


Love Is Too Blind


L anguishing in this sad torturing state
O nly my mind to rip me into shreds.
V acant of hope, she warned it was too late
E very day since my thoughts are in deep reds.
I nflicting the misery my heart needs,
S he left me with only this one sad choice.
T o cut my torn heart until out it bleeds,
O ver the sound of my lost wailing voice.
O pen your merciful heart my sweet friend,
B e my angel, return life back to me!
L augh and dance, do it all over again
I n that new paradise, we have that key.
N othing to lose and everything to gain,
D eliver my relief from this great pain.

Robert J. Lindley, 2-08-2016
Acrostic sonnet(tail-rhyme)- LOVE IS TOO BLIND.


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 14 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 109
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Flowers Adorning Deep Prairie Sunsets
( Number four, Debbie's 6/6 challenge )

Heard morning dove in her opening song,
she flew onto a weeping willow branch.
Somehow feeling in Nature I belong,
blessed was I, working that cattle ranch.

There are mighty hills resting far out West,
such Titans grace bluest western skies.
Here Nature, earth, and sky present their best,
giving true answers to how, when and why's.

No stranger to Nature's great scenic views,
I find western lands match any and all.
Life in this vast land one pays heavy dues,
yet can readily answer Nature's call.

Flowers adorning deep prairie sunsets,
colors in rainbow hues, good as it gets!

Robert J. Lindley, 2-07-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

Note : Perfect tens, perfect 100 words

New number four, Debbie'S 6/6/6 CHALLENGE


Lets Heal Our Hearts With Love Anew (Echo Sonnet)

Darling, please heal again this broken heart,
Once our hands sought each other's soft touch;
our nights found that no dancing was too much?
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Can we find sweet true love and never part?
Fly upon white snow covered mountain tops;
move heaven and earth, pray it never stops!
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Next consult our love's astrology chart?
Discover new moans in our night's hot bed;
forgetting misery pains in our heads.
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Darling, please heal again this broken heart
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Robert J. Lindley, 2 -15-2016


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 107

SONNET FORM #4 Echo Sonnet a*bbA accA addA a*A.
a*, a and A lines all rhyme and a* and A lines are the repeating lines

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First draft- Number 5 of Debbies 6/6/6 challenge

Love's Greatest Costs Are Pangs Of Deepest Remorse


Life is not all love, sweet fun and joyous games
nor pure enjoyment seeing dawn's early rise.
Sometimes it may be our deeds revealed that shames
and cost us dearly, our heart's most precious prize.

Lost love is fast fleeing and elusive beast,
armed with sharp daggers and even deeper lies.
If returned, offers us a sumptuous feast,
of rarest delights and reclaimed cherry pies.

Ah, but to recover bright golden treasures,
one often endures hard blows and sharper cuts.
Sacrifices offered in painful measures,
one may win the prize but others think us nuts!

Love's greatest costs are pangs of deepest remorse.
Which avoiding, would mean no loving of course!

Robert J. Lindley, 2-08-2016

Form: Sonnet in 11 syllable verses(RJL 11).

Syllables Per Line:
11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
Total # Syllables: 154
Total # Lines: 14 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 111

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Birds Sing To Morning Sun Shining Today

Listening to birds sing to the morn sun,
brightens my day in magnificent ways.
Spring and its fine songs can not be outdone,
I rush to meet it with no long delays.

In the distance, that great bright ball rises,
bringing in warm and early cheerful rays.
Each morn in turn presents new surprises,
with fish flopping in the deep wooded bays.

Views into Nature's beauty unsurpassed,
are as sweet as grapes growing on the vine.
Giving blessings for life often harassed,
one can see its origins are divine.

Birds sing to morning sun shining today,
entice this lad to race outside to play.

R.J. Lindley
April 11th, 1970


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 104

Note(old)- Today I skipped school, going fishing
after breakfast. Hope those babies are biting good,
cause this country boy is hungry.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Where Summer's End Meets Autumn's Cooler Sky

Where summer's end meets Autumn's cooler sky,
colors begin to change into beautiful hues.
Journeying birds quack as southward they fly,
winging in flocks or else pairing in two's.

Autumn's brief spell has its greatest rewards,
rainbow colors fall from preparing trees.
We know cold blasting winds are in the cards,
when we feel shivers in our shaking knees.

Sadness leaps in as colors drain away,
flowing waters lose their bubbling sounds.
Farmers fields are covered with bales of hay,
we imagine landing on one of those mounds.

Solace may be, thoughts of white winter snows,
and fireplace logs warming our frozen toes!

Robert J. Lindley, 2-10-2016

Sonnet-- Long version--first draft.
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Second draft, meets perfect ten syllable count and perfect one hundred words.

Where Summer's End Meets Autumn's Cooler Sky

Where summer's end meets Autumn's cooler sky,
colors change into bright, beautiful hues.
Journeying birds quack as southward they fly,
winging in flocks or else pairing in two's.

Autumn's briefest spell has greater rewards,
rainbow colors fall from preparing trees.
We know cold blasting winds are in the cards,
when we feel shivers in our shaking knees.

Sadness leaps in as colors drain away,
flowing waters lose their soft, bubbling sounds.
Farmers fields are covered with bales of hay,
we imagine landing on those tall mounds.

Solace may be, thinking white winter snows,
and fireplace logs warming our frozen toes!

Robert J. Lindley, 2 -10-2016


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically: Total # Words: 100

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

While Beaten And Wallowing In Pity

While beaten and wallowing in pity,
beauty's greatest vision appeared to me.
Cold and alone in this nasty city,
all is pavement with not even a tree.

She walked over by my aching side.
Her voice, sweet music far beyond compare,
touch, the calm feel of a gentle tide.
That smile gracing beautiful eyes and hair.

Suddenly joy returned to a dead man,
life sprang back and gave magnificent hope.
The future now has in its happy plan,
cowboy returned with horse, gun and strong rope!

Her kindness destroying a tragic black.
Her first lingering kiss brought my soul back!

Robert J. Lindley, 2-11-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

Note: Sonnet perfect tens, perfect hundred words.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

The Vision, The Magic Hour

Again the hour strikes magnificently,
when she arrives in her soft, golden gown;
with grace in her charms that are presently,
all the talk in this sleepy little town.
We of the hard farming and country life,
find her a princess giving precious hope,
with relief from this weariness and strife,
gifting brightest dreams in cinema-scope.
Should she start dancing again in our hearts,
time would then grant us happiness anew.
For this angel brings magic to these parts,
inspiring in each, soft love overdue.
Alas! The hour strikes its departing blow!
She the vision, sings sweetly as she goes.

Robert J. Lindley, 2 -12-2016

Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 14 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 100

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Lets Heal Our Hearts With Love Anew (Echo Sonnet)

Darling, please heal again this broken heart,
Once our hands sought each other's soft touch;
our nights found that no dancing was too much?
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Can we find sweet true love and never part?
Fly upon white snow covered mountain tops;
move heaven and earth, pray it never stops!
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Next consult our love's astrology chart?
Discover new moans in our night's hot bed;
forgetting misery pains in our heads.
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Darling, please heal again this broken heart
Always you and I from that kissing start.

Robert J. Lindley, 2 -15-2016

Syllables Per Line: 10
Echo Sonnet a*bbA accA addA a*A.

a*, a and A lines all rhyme and a* and A lines are the repeating lines

Form created by Jeff Green is based on the Kyrielle sonnet, like the Kyrielle sonnet it has 3 quatrains and a couplet all ending with the
same line.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

In Our Vanity We Think Ourselves Above That

Far above, this hectic and mysterious life,
are those magnificent clouds and God's deep blue sky.
Although our chances for sweet happiness are rife,
we often see not, thus hardly ever ask why.

Within that vicious circle we plod right along,
victimized by our own armored and blinded minds
And if we by chance hear any heavenly song,
far to often we ignore such wonderful finds.

Signs within Nature give us such abundant clues.
In our vanity we think ourselves above that.
In our abundant ignorance we pay steep dues
and foolishly think greater wealth is where its at!

Far below, our hectic and mysterious lives,
we often crawl forth cutting our throats with sharp knives!

Robert J. Lindley, 2-08-2016

Form- Sonnet written in 12 syllable verses instead
of the usual ten syllable verses.

Syllables Per Line:
12 12 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 0 12 12 12 12 0 12 12
Total # Syllables: 168
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 116

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

God And Nature Are Foundations In Each Soul
( Sestina Sonnet) (Number 5)


God and Nature give me such sweet release,
as both seep quite deeply into my soul.
Joined in this melding we race on carefree
and we in our wisdom dance two by two.

My life now consists of love of we two,
holding the joys in being so carefree.
Days and nights bring on our hottest release,
together build stronger each longing soul.

Nature and God live in a seeking soul,
creating scenarios for release.
Bathed in true light, they create sets of two,
with beloved brought pairs that are carefree.

God and Nature are foundations in each soul.
Man's quest should be to find divine release.

Robert J. Lindley, 2-18-2016

Debbie's 6/6/6 challenge
Sonnet Form number 5- Sestina Sonnet, non-rhyming
Rhyme pattern, A.B.C.D D.C.A.B B.A.D.C CB DA


Syllables Per Line:
10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10
Total # Syllables: 140
Total # Lines: 17 (Including empty lines)
Words with (syllables) counted programmatically:
Total # Words: 107