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Beneath the Shadow Bare

What lies beneath the shadow bare Reflection faded from brightening sun The will to flee or take to the skies Content to languish in the darkness Beneath the stand of giant pin oaks None but I have traced in starkness The outlines where the hidden tries To recover from the horrendous stun It took from pane when crashing there. Then, suddenly from the shadow bare Thrashing and senseless flopping about The injured gained new self-confidence And when I gave an encouraging shout It righted itself, taking quickly to the air. FIRST PLACE WINNER A Brian Strand 1 to 14 Line Poetry Contest August 10, 2021 written August 9, 2021 (An experimental sonnet featuring my reverse rhyming pattern.) HONORABLE MENTION WINNER "I Am A Poet" Poetry Contest August, 2021, All Poetry

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Joanna Daniel

Date: 8/10/2021 2:00:00 AM

I like your reverse rhyming form, Milton, and it lends so beautifully to this amazing sonnet:) birds never give up flying, do they?

L Milton Hankins
Date: 8/10/2021 8:46:00 AM

Nope. Jo, this often happens when a bird will fly into the large picture window in my living room. I hear them hit, but when I investigate they are recovered and gone. I have no idea the force generated with such a hit, but birds are pretty tough.