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
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

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Wraith Avatar
April 6, 2024 at 8:40 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.
Theraven Avatar
January 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Edward, A thanks in Autumn must wait. So thanks for now, we'll have to muddle through somehow. From Winter we hope a kinder fate. -Richard
Ray Choudhury Avatar
March 28, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Hi Richard, The title and the trophy made me want to read this beautiful sonnet. Your win is very well-deserved ~ Mala
Theraven Avatar
April 8, 2021 at 7:17 AM
Thank you Malabika. -Richard
Rose  Avatar
December 26, 2020 at 3:30 AM
I really love this one Quoth, sonnets are my favorite form, but the content here is what rivets my attention. Congrats , top win !
Theraven Avatar
December 26, 2020 at 8:26 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
Dietrich Avatar
May 9, 2020 at 9:59 PM
I am seeing this has a trophy by it. it was a very well deserved win, my friend!! belated Congrats
Theraven Avatar
December 26, 2020 at 8:28 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
Hicks Avatar
May 6, 2020 at 4:31 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.
Theraven Avatar
August 27, 2023 at 4:27 PM
Timothy, Full of wonder, yes. Time travels on and is best seen, between railroad tracks. -R
Idudje Avatar
May 3, 2020 at 7:19 PM
You are just to interesting Refreshing At imaging Pleasing. Write Us A Film.
Theraven Avatar
August 27, 2023 at 4:19 PM
Thank you, a future me said to past comment. Wouldn't that be ideal? Maybe someday I will. -R
Radhakrishna Avatar
February 16, 2020 at 11:06 AM
What a love story! Propose love to hay when moonshines! The image painted is wonderful!!
Theraven Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Thank you Krish. -Richard
Buehler Avatar
January 9, 2020 at 7:10 PM
Delightfully imaginative and so captivating and lovely. Congratulations on your win! :)
Theraven Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 10:09 AM
Thank you Evelyn. -Richard
Dawn Avatar
January 9, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Brilliant
Theraven Avatar
March 23, 2020 at 10:09 AM
Thank you Tara Dawn. =Uncle
Lamoureux Avatar
January 4, 2020 at 8:37 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.
Kiser Avatar
December 20, 2019 at 11:32 AM
Beautifully done and Congratulations on your win!
Theraven Avatar
December 25, 2019 at 9:58 PM
M.L., Thank you for the comment. A Merry Christmas wish for you and kind new year too. -Richard
Lane Avatar
December 13, 2019 at 10:39 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
Theraven Avatar
December 25, 2019 at 10:03 PM
Lin, I missed you and your poetry. I quite forgot how much 'til now. Merry Christmas. -Richard
Ravidas Avatar
December 9, 2019 at 4:30 AM
Wow, congrats on win, Richard. This wonderful sonnet is worthy of the most golden trophy.
Theraven Avatar
December 11, 2019 at 9:19 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
Krutsinger Avatar
December 5, 2019 at 6:08 AM
Your personalization of both make this an exceedingly WONDERFUL write, my friend.
Theraven Avatar
December 8, 2019 at 2:34 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
Bangalee Avatar
December 4, 2019 at 3:47 AM
yeah; really a brilliant sonnet
Theraven Avatar
December 8, 2019 at 2:29 PM
Thank you for the comment Mahtab. -Richard
Lindley Avatar
December 3, 2019 at 8:45 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..
Theraven Avatar
December 3, 2019 at 11:26 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
Pinet Avatar
December 1, 2019 at 8:36 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.
Theraven Avatar
December 1, 2019 at 7:33 PM
Emile, Thank you for your consideration of my poem entry. -Richard
Wolf Avatar
November 23, 2019 at 11:41 PM
The freckled frown and button eyes got to me, my friend. Great sonnet, Richard. Immensely enjoyable. Thanks, Gershon
Theraven Avatar
December 3, 2019 at 9:46 AM
Gershon, Thanks for that. Please, the next evening you look up at a waxing moon, look to see if you see freckles. -Richard
Proxenos Avatar
November 22, 2019 at 12:56 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.
Chiri Avatar
November 20, 2019 at 4:41 AM
I simply love this Richard!;)
Marcum Wong Avatar
November 17, 2019 at 10:22 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
Theraven Avatar
November 18, 2019 at 10:53 PM
Connie, Thank you for the wonderful comment, it's very much appreciated. -Richard
Mcconnell Avatar
November 16, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Nice penning Richard, lovely rhyme and flow. Real great imagery and insightful wording. Blessings,Gordon
Theraven Avatar
November 16, 2019 at 6:01 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
De Beaulieu Avatar
November 11, 2019 at 5:27 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.
De Beaulieu Avatar
January 30, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Hello Richard, Hi! Richard, you are very welcome. Enjoy your day my friend. /Darlene./
Theraven Avatar
January 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Darlene, Saving the best for last. So thank you all these years on. -Richard
Proxenos Avatar
November 8, 2019 at 10:58 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.
Ligon Avatar
November 8, 2019 at 9:55 AM
Beautiful imagery. Great descriptions.
Theraven Avatar
November 16, 2019 at 3:37 PM
Juliet, Thank you for the comment. Your avatar is very interesting imagery..wondering at the source(?) -Richard
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