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The Strawman and the Moon

A straw man stood fixed upon timber firm, gazing at Autumn's gilded, moonlit prize. He, the king of Earth and the winding worm, she, the pale darling of cold starry skies. Left in fallow field of harvest' soiled gown, with sun bleached woolen coat so neglected. Besotted by her face in freckled frown, though light falsely owned in Sun reflected. Few seasons counted in scarecrow's race, lonely journey, long eons moon must know. She left locked ever more in Earth's embrace, while he lay fallen soon in Winter's snow. Jealous moon keeps watch o'er his button eyes, from Venus, Mars, and star's envied night skies. 22 October 2019 - New Fall Sonnets Poetry Contest -Sponsored by Emile Pinet

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Edward Wraith

Date: 4/6/2024 8:40:00 AM

Richard, hearty congratulations on thy triumph! A victory well earned, beyond any shadow of doubt. Thy sonnet, a masterpiece yet again, crafted with utmost skill and finesse. Fall, the season of my soul’s delight, finds its essence captured within thy verse, every nuance tenderly woven into the fabric of thy lines. A splendid achievement, indeed.

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 3/28/2021 12:13:00 PM

Hi Richard, The title and the trophy made me want to read this beautiful sonnet. Your win is very well-deserved ~ Mala

Quoth Theraven
Date: 4/8/2021 7:17:00 AM

Thank you Malabika. -Richard

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 12/26/2020 3:30:00 AM

I really love this one Quoth, sonnets are my favorite form, but the content here is what rivets my attention. Congrats , top win !

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/26/2020 8:26:00 AM

Mystic, Thank you for sharing this. I hope your enjoying the holiday season as much as I am. It has been such a strange year. -Richard

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/9/2020 9:59:00 PM

I am seeing this has a trophy by it. it was a very well deserved win, my friend!! belated Congrats

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/26/2020 8:28:00 AM

Andrea, Thank you for all the encouragement. And thanks for so many inspired moments you gave freely to myself and others throughout this year. -Richard

Timothy Hicks

Date: 5/6/2020 4:31:00 PM

Your little trophy emblem next to the title is what made me click ... and I wasn't disappointed. What a fascinating sonnet about such a curious relationship between the scarecrow and moon. You words drew me into the whimsy of it all, that I halfway expected the scarecrow to get off his pole and sing a little song like in the Wizard of Oz. We need more poems like this on this site ... full of imagination and wonder.

Quoth Theraven
Date: 8/27/2023 4:27:00 PM

Timothy, Full of wonder, yes. Time travels on and is best seen, between railroad tracks. -R

Gideon Idudje

Date: 5/3/2020 7:19:00 PM

You are just to interesting Refreshing At imaging Pleasing. Write Us A Film.

Quoth Theraven
Date: 8/27/2023 4:19:00 PM

Thank you, a future me said to past comment. Wouldn't that be ideal? Maybe someday I will. -R

Krish Radhakrishna

Date: 2/16/2020 11:06:00 AM

What a love story! Propose love to hay when moonshines! The image painted is wonderful!!

Quoth Theraven
Date: 3/23/2020 10:10:00 AM

Thank you Krish. -Richard

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 1/9/2020 7:10:00 PM

Delightfully imaginative and so captivating and lovely. Congratulations on your win! :)

Quoth Theraven
Date: 3/23/2020 10:09:00 AM

Thank you Evelyn. -Richard

Tara Dawn

Date: 1/9/2020 9:52:00 AM

Brilliant

Quoth Theraven
Date: 3/23/2020 10:09:00 AM

Thank you Tara Dawn. =Uncle

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/4/2020 8:37:00 AM

I enjoyed giving this one another read. I can appreciate why this one earned a medal. I commend the judge on his excellent taste. Thanks for your comment and Visit. I wrote the poem for the same person as my Within Your Rings Poem.

M. L. Kiser

Date: 12/20/2019 11:32:00 AM

Beautifully done and Congratulations on your win!

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/25/2019 9:58:00 PM

M.L., Thank you for the comment. A Merry Christmas wish for you and kind new year too. -Richard

Lin Lane

Date: 12/13/2019 10:39:00 AM

I sincerely apologize for not reading you sooner, and after feasting on this one, I'm starving for more. What marvelous poetry is born when written about adoration between inanimate objects, although that's not a fitting word for the moon, for she lives in the eyes of many. I beg for another saga, perhaps after Winter's snow

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/25/2019 10:03:00 PM

Lin, I missed you and your poetry. I quite forgot how much 'til now. Merry Christmas. -Richard

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 12/9/2019 4:30:00 AM

Wow, congrats on win, Richard. This wonderful sonnet is worthy of the most golden trophy.

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/11/2019 9:19:00 AM

Kurt, Thank you for that comment. In England they're called 'Hay-man'. In Scotland and the Isle of Skye they're called 'Tattie Bogle' or 'Tattie Bogal'. What do they call straw men in your neighborhood? -Richard

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 12/5/2019 6:08:00 AM

Your personalization of both make this an exceedingly WONDERFUL write, my friend.

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/8/2019 2:34:00 PM

Caren, Thank you for that comment. If I wrote myself into this poem, I would be the woolen coat. Maybe old, but warm. -Richard

Mahtab Bangalee

Date: 12/4/2019 3:47:00 AM

yeah; really a brilliant sonnet

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/8/2019 2:29:00 PM

Thank you for the comment Mahtab. -Richard

Robert Lindley

Date: 12/3/2019 8:45:00 AM

Brilliant sonnet, it not be in iambic pentameter takes absolutely nothing away from it... As its quality, beauty, creativity, great rhyming, message and poetic forethought far surpasses such adherence to rigid form, IMHO. I believe in substance, beauty, quality, rhyme and message over that of slavish adherence to form. God bless... A fav too..

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/3/2019 11:26:00 PM

Robert, Thank you for your comments. You've been a guiding presence for so many of us here. Still, there is a lesson here in creativity and execution of a Sonnet. I will work to improve on it. -Richard

Emile Pinet

Date: 12/1/2019 8:36:00 AM

Congratulations Richard! Your poem has placed "First" in my PoetrySoup contest. Due to the exacting syllable counts and perfect rhyme requirements of this form, this contest was very tough to judge, well done my friend, Emile.

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/1/2019 7:33:00 PM

Emile, Thank you for your consideration of my poem entry. -Richard

Gershon Wolf

Date: 11/23/2019 11:41:00 PM

The freckled frown and button eyes got to me, my friend. Great sonnet, Richard. Immensely enjoyable. Thanks, Gershon

Quoth Theraven
Date: 12/3/2019 9:46:00 AM

Gershon, Thanks for that. Please, the next evening you look up at a waxing moon, look to see if you see freckles. -Richard

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 11/22/2019 12:56:00 PM

Hi Richard, Your artistic creative poem with he, the snowman wearing a 'sun bleached woolen coat and she the moon 'the darling of cold starry skies' is amazing I love it and have to put it into my favs. Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

Brenda Chiri

Date: 11/20/2019 4:41:00 AM

I simply love this Richard!;)

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 11/17/2019 10:22:00 AM

This lovely sonnet is simply enchanting Richard. I loved the story you created and I hope this comes in high on winning list. It is a Fave for me Richard! So well done! : ) xxoo

Quoth Theraven
Date: 11/18/2019 10:53:00 PM

Connie, Thank you for the wonderful comment, it's very much appreciated. -Richard

Gordon Mcconnell

Date: 11/16/2019 2:22:00 PM

Nice penning Richard, lovely rhyme and flow. Real great imagery and insightful wording. Blessings,Gordon

Quoth Theraven
Date: 11/16/2019 6:01:00 PM

Gordon, Thanks for the comment friend. I'm looking forward to reading more of your poems. I just read your poem 'Pure Class'. The title caught my attention. -Richard

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 11/11/2019 5:27:00 PM

Hello Quote The Raven,she the pale darling of the starry sky, felt a loss for the scarecrow's passing. Have a nice evening my friend.

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 11/11/2019 11:18:00 AM

A different cast of characters seen this fall. Wonderful imagery Richard

Quoth Theraven
Date: 11/16/2019 6:05:00 PM

Sandra, Hello to you. Thanks for reading my pen scratched Sonnet. How are you this fine Saturday evening? The moon holds a special place for us dreamers..,don't you think? -Richard

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 11/8/2019 10:58:00 AM

A creative, well crafted poem and one in which your imagery soars! I've see crows sitting on the head and arms of scarecrows when we pass farmlands - A scare crow reminds me of a Guy Fawkes effigy, the moon seems mesmerized by the scarecrows button eyes. Well penned Richard. Hugs Jennifer.