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Birthing a Sonnet

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Writing my first Sonnet was like a pregnancy. I knew I wanted to give birth to one and took on the parental responsibility knowing it wouldn't... or shouldn't take nine months. There'd been no morning sickness nausea but there were times when I wanted to change my mind. "Too bad, kiddo," I thought. "You gotta see this through. because you can't put Humpty Dumpty back inside his egg once the shell has cracked and broken." Determined not to have yet another unfinished poem take up space in a notebook, I persevered spoiling myself with ice cream, chocolate fudge slivers, a few cherries, and a liberal squirt of caramel sauce. I indulged myself with a reward after the first verse. I've never liked dill pickles, so when I couldn't find the right rhyming word for verse two, I didn't eat those. Pregnancy or not, I wasn't going to suffer puckered lips because my muse refused to be pregnant with me. She'd have made a useless midwife anyway. Said she'd be back when she got a birth announcement. I suffered alone and pushed this baby out with the same force a laborious woman uses to birth a child. No epidural in the spine, although I did partake in a bottle of wine during the entire nascence process. "LOOK," I screamed. "After fourteen hours of labor it's an eight-pound boy." Actually, it was more like eight hours of labor to deliver a fourteen-line Sonnet, and lots of anxiety. I took comfort knowing this baby wouldn't need breast feeding. Now that it's here, it will be reread a time or ten... a line edited here or a tweak somewhere. It will be mollycoddled, burped, and pampered but not with the naked butt baby kind. I'll sing it to sleep when I'm the one needing a lullaby, and I'll be glad it doesn't cry for a two am bottle. I won't worry about it getting sick or growing up too quickly because ten years from now it'll still be my baby. Birthing a child is difficult work but we both survived the labor. and my firstborn is not crumpled in a basket, lying on the floor.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 9/1/2024 8:55:00 AM
"I suffered alone and pushed this baby out with the same force a laborious woman uses to birth a child. No epidural in the spine, although I did partake in a bottle of wine during the entire nascence process." Enjoyed these lines so much, dear Lin. This poem is so hilarious, equally weighty! I can feel your labor, though I am sure the baby must have been born without any strain on your part as your pen is so facile. Sometimes writing a poem for me is a real labor!
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/3/2024 6:24:00 PM
Labor intensive, some poetry forms certainly can be. Not the case for me in writing Sonnets. Thanks for your kind remarks and pointing out your fave lines, Valsa.
Date: 8/31/2024 11:08:00 PM
Lin , you must be so relieved , it may have been a difficult pregnancy but the delivery was out of this world, perhaps a c-section next time and a gentle hand to squeeze to scream obscenities at ? This is an amazing piece of poetry , there isn't one line that's out of place , but my favourite lines are "because my muse refused to be pregnant with me. She'd have made a useless midwife anyway. Said she'd be back when she got a birth announcement". fave for me , such a unique cleverly written poem .
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Lin Lane
Date: 9/3/2024 6:22:00 PM
So relieved, Danny. Never had a C section and don't plan on being pregnant again. Sonnets and other forms are no longer a strain to write. Thanks for the fave and liking this one. No thanks to my nonexistent Muse.
Date: 8/31/2024 4:11:00 PM
Very interesting read! Big smile :-)
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/31/2024 5:52:00 PM
I like knowing my write brought you a smile. Thanks!
Date: 8/31/2024 3:51:00 PM
Brilliantly conceived analogy, Lin. Nearly didn’t read, as free verse often leaves me cold (no offence to anyone), but I’m so glad I did because this is simply smashing. Mind you, you do have rather a lot of ‘babies’… me thinks you should buy a TV…
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/31/2024 4:08:00 PM
Lol Terry.. I have a tv but don’t often turn it on. Since I’m single now, I’m not procreating these days, except for poetry. Two human children are just fine. I’m glad you read this one.
Date: 8/31/2024 11:48:00 AM
Loved this hilarious, raucous poem, Lin. Funny -
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/31/2024 11:55:00 AM
Hi, John and I’m delighted that you found it to your liking. Thanks so very much.
Date: 8/31/2024 10:57:00 AM
Love how you compared childbirth to writing a sonnet Lin Who needs an epidural when there's a bottle of wine on hand. Lol. In a way it becomes an obsession, once you start you can't let go and give up. Tom
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/31/2024 11:54:00 AM
It’s difficult for me to abandon a baby, so I’ll keep cajoling it until it fits in its cradle. Thanks a lot, Tom.
Date: 8/31/2024 7:11:00 AM
OMG Lin, this is freakin hilarious - got to admit I am loving your dessert - I will pack my bags and come right on over lol, A massive fave - sure creased me up and its a poem many can relate to as I look on my poems as my 'babies' lol
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Lin Lane
Date: 8/31/2024 2:26:00 PM
Thanks for the fave and seeing the humor in this one,Jan. Im not sure where it was born but it just popped out of me. ;-)

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry