William Kelii Kekaula Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

The Enlightenment

Within ancient keeps where stony shadows sleep,
And ivies tower their solemn watch maintain,
My heart, a fortress, guards a love so deep,
Against the mortal world’s unyielding rain;

No novel scheme, or lack of passing whim,
But built with stone that long ago was set,
Against the siege of doubts that make love dim,
A flail of thought, a whirling, wild regret;

Yet in this strength, a tender secret lives,
A banner flown for you, my lady fair,
For whom the castle's trapdoors relent, gives
Passage to sunlight, yonder fragrant air;

Thus, built for war, this fortress of my soul,
Behold your gaze, its peace, and thus made whole.

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Jay Narain October 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM This is a resonant and dignified love poem. It combines defense and vulnerability, and it resolves with a hopeful, unifying image: the fortress, made warlike to defend, is healed by the beloved’s gaze. Its strength lies in the consistency of metaphor, the classical tone, and the emotional sincerity. William Kelii Kekaula October 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM I have established that the mood being set for the subject highlights the thematic conflict stemming internally, and as I had predetermined a resolute outcome, whereby the guarded soul envisions the light, making the divisive threshold dissolve Aloha..

CayCay Godwin October 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM This poem is a poetry pleasure giver, at least it is to me. I really enjoyed reading it, your phrasing, words and content, all of it. William Kelii Kekaula October 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM ...and the joy of content goes on...with my sincere appreciation, Aloha.