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The Useless Chase

Addicted to romance, I’ve tried in vain to resurrect the unrestrained delight I felt so long ago one summer night - excitement of the type no one can feign. I had it once, and I could not abstain from tasting it. It made my soul take flight. Then back to earth I plummeted. I write to bring it back because it has been slain. Romance is destined not to be revived. It’s slain by woes and all that’s commonplace. Life’s demons stole it; now I feel deprived. It’s drained from me! I miss its fond embrace. And so with poetry I have contrived to bring it back. Alas – a useless chase. Aug. 26, 2019 for Emile Pinet's Eight Word Challenge Poetry Contest The 8 words used in this Italian Sonnet in order of how they appear: addicted/ vain/ abstain/ slain/ destined/ woes/ demons/ drained Note: I do not know why poetrysoup does not correctly identify the rhyme pattern of the second stanza of this poetry form. The first part is abbaabba. Here is what Google says for the finishing sestet: Some of the most common rhyme schemes for the sestet are cdecde, cdcdcd, cddcdd, and cddece. My preference is cdcdcd.

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 9/1/2019 6:30:00 AM

Wow this is good Andrea! You almost made the podium too. I loved this! Congratulations on your win! ; ) xxoo

Eve Roper

Date: 8/31/2019 10:39:00 PM

Great way of using your words, Andrea, congratulations on your 4th place win. Hugs Eve

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 8/31/2019 4:37:00 PM

Thank God literature is as subjective as any art form. That's why we love it. Nevertheless, I'm surprised why this masterpiece of style did not get its deserved gold. Anyway, I'm happy this poem came into this world. The world's benefited from this)

Emile Pinet

Date: 8/31/2019 8:08:00 AM

Congratulations Andrea! Your poem earned a distinguished place in my contest, your beautiful poem successfully caught my attention, well done my friend, Emile.

Frederic Parker

Date: 8/27/2019 5:17:00 PM

A really well-written sonnet with a story that touches the ages...good luck in the contest

Matthew Anish

Date: 8/27/2019 2:30:00 PM

Fine use of form here. The great thing about verse is that it can refresh the spirit like dancing or eating tasty food can. As the years weigh upon us it is hard to keep the sparks flying. But we can !! Peace & Love Matthew Anish

Sandra Adams

Date: 8/27/2019 11:23:00 AM

simply beautiful sonnet my friend...great job penning this with the given words! Love it :) hugs

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 8/27/2019 10:20:00 AM

Just beautiful, Andrea. Perfectly metered. Good luck in the contest!

P.S. Awtry

Date: 8/27/2019 10:17:00 AM

Enjoyed this beautiful poem. The required words felt seamlessly woven into your work and I had no idea there were any required words till reading the note! Best of luck :)

Vijay Pandit

Date: 8/27/2019 7:31:00 AM

The rhymes look hard to execute..but as always, you do well in everything you write..kudos, Andrea.

John Gondolf

Date: 8/27/2019 6:16:00 AM

A beautifully written sonnet, Andrea. Many of us relive past romances through our poetry. Best of luck in the contest. Hugs, John

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 8/27/2019 5:09:00 AM

With all due respect to the old good English sonnet, I like the Italian sonnet more. Although in Russia it is usually called the French one. The order of rhymes in tercets really may vary. Your option is the most diffucult and the most aesthetically gorgeous. Thank you, Andrea. I really enjoyed it.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 8/27/2019 6:27:00 PM

thanks so much, Kurt.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/27/2019 4:25:00 AM

- Very well done, Andrea - Good luck in the contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 8/27/2019 2:11:00 AM

Hello Andrea … certainly a style of poetry I happened read before. It is interesting and your poem really does it credit - thank you Andrea - Lindsay