Alison A Smith nee Howarth Poet Sonnet

Notes About The Poem

 

Written 17th September, 2026

Poetry Wheel Challenge: Theme: Journey Emotion: Wonder Color: Blue Season: Late Summer Form: Sonnet

Object: Compass Verb: Wander

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."

— T.S. Eliot

 

Where North Goes

The late-summer track runs blue with deep shade,
While cicadas rasp in sun-whitened trees;
And ask what secret lives inside the breeze,
You clasp my hand where sandy gullies fade.
I show the compass, by the years decayed,
Whose faithful needle leans, and never flees;
We watch the foam that feathers on the seas,
While on the shore our wandering steps are made.

You ask where north goes, in your small voice calm,
As though the world was just this morning born;
You spy a blue-tounged skink beneath a thorn,
And hold a broken shell within your palm.
The compass points its north through dusk and foam;
Your wondering hand points farther still—to home.

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Paige Hind September 17, 2026 at 6:07 PM wow. thrououghly beautiful, Alison, hun, faving this!! Alison A Smith nee Howarth September 17, 2026 at 6:35 PM Thanks Paige ..... the challenge just found its path.

Christopher Haywood September 17, 2026 at 5:28 PM Alison, this is a masterclass in the sonnet form! The vivid sensory detail—from the cicadas rasping to the blue-tongued skink—grounds the piece so beautifully. But that final couplet is pure magic; contrasting the physical decay of the compass with the child's intuitive direction toward 'home' was brilliant. Absolutely stunning work! Alison A Smith nee Howarth September 17, 2026 at 6:33 PM Thank you Christopher. I really enjoyed this one.

Simone Young September 17, 2026 at 10:29 AM Alison, stunning work! The final couplet gave me goosebumps. You have a beautiful gift for turning a quiet walk into a profound reflection on what truly guides us. Thank you for sharing this! Alison A Smith nee Howarth September 17, 2026 at 2:39 PM Thank you for your kind words.🌹