Heroic Sonnet
Definition & Example
This is my first out of what I hope will be many blog posts about not only the poems I create but a little information for those looking for answers. What is a Heroic Sonnet??? How do you even begin to write one??? Well let me tell you, yes they are not the typical easy poetry format, but I personally love this form!
A heroic sonnet is a poem written with 210 lines of poetry. Not only is it long but it is made up of 15 normal sonnets, usually in iambic pentameter form. Now if you're not sure what iambic pentameter is, I’ll explain it. Iambic pentameter is basically 10 syllables on each line. Or the other way you can put it is the iamb stand for foot, and it consists of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. Pent means five, so one line of iambic pentameter consists of five iambs. I don't know about you but I personally find the 10 syllables per line definition easier to follow and understand. (daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM) is the beat you want on each line.
For example:
Doth cre/ate in/ a blink/ a mas/ter's eye
(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)
Forms plac/es that/only/moments/ago
(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)(daDUM)
This is two lines from my first Heroic Sonnet I ever wrote. Each line has 10 syllables and so follows the iambic pentameter form. Not all are written this way but the majority are.
How do you write a heroic sonnet? There is a major key to writing this form that you must remember. You have 15 sonnets to write, but you MUST write Sonnet 15 first if you want your poem to flow and make sense. You see with a heroic sonnet you're not just writing 15 sonnets and 210 lines of poetry. You have guidelines you have to follow as with any poetry from. Line one in sonnet 15 will be line one is sonnet 1. Line two in sonnet 15 will be line one in sonnet 2. Line three in sonnet 15 will be line one in sonnet 3, and so it continues on tell sonnet 14. A sonnet is a 14 line poem, and line fourteen in sonnet 1 will be line one in sonnet 2. Line fourteen in sonnet 2 will be line one in sonnet 3 and it goes on from there. You also want to make sure that the last line in sonnet 14 is the first line of sonnet 1. So it can be quite confusing and I have placed my heroic sonnet example below in case you did not follow this. A heroic sonnet is also typically written with a rhyme scheme similar to this: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
For example:
A-Doth create in a blink a master's eye
B-Forms places that only moments ago
A-Could not yet exist, but now we do spy
B-Yet moments ago we did choose to roe
C-To roe upon this master mind of mine
D-We seem to find that rhythm does not end
C-We shall find no end to a twinkling time
D-That does seem to want and will wait to bend
E-A creation that only I command
F-To my tongue the words will try to make sound
E-Hand me a pen for the words are unplanned
F-To fly off my pen to seek to be crowned
G-Create in the mist an image of gold
G-Gold painted not for the eyes to behold
I hope this has helped you understand a little about a heroic sonnet and how one is written. I personally really enjoyed not only writing this blog post but creating the heroic sonnet. I plan on writing many more.
Here is my Heroic Sonnet Example:
A Writer’s Sonnet
Doth create in a blink a master's eye
Forms places that only moments ago
Could not yet exist, but now we do spy
Yet moments ago we did choose to roe
To roe upon this master mind of mine
We seem to find that rhythm does not end
We shall find no end to a twinkling time
That does seem to want and will wait to bend
A creation that only I command
To my tongue the words will try to make sound
Hand me a pen for the words are unplanned
To fly off my pen to seek to be crowned
Create in the mist an image of gold
Gold painted not for the eyes to behold
Gold painted not for the eyes to behold
I did create that in this world of mine
For you see among us the dark takes hold
Takes hold among the hearts and minds of swine
The swine of man who only likes to spy
They try to create that world of their own
Although here I sit choosing the winds cry
Choosing those that will sit upon that throne
So tall so small they may or may not be
When counting down the seconds are soon gone
Seconds that did not have to go pay that fee
As they soon come to know they are all pawns
They masquerade around acting the part
So beautiful created not with dye
So beautiful created not with dye
I find fiery breath of the dragon strong
Yet greater I do find the gift to try
Try and succeed in creating this song
For those among the crowd do watch me dance
Laughing and scorning at my chosen speed
Wait, you there do you not see this romance
That in time builds and with speed might just bleed
How could you, know that in my hidden mind
There sits a place upon that edge a rest
Worlds that hidden may or may not be kind
Where in that place shall that phoenix take nest
You try to capture the phoenix to hold
My words they seem to create something bold
My words they seem to create something bold
Hidden not, they flow above they create
Something you might just be able to hold
Or will you choose to close to lock a gate
Oh how far do the wild thoughts do roam
Aboad, about inside the wild blooms
Upon this stoney path you see a gnome
That gnome hidden and whose name seem to loom
To touch my pen the ink to the blank sheets
Although the words like magic they will seem
Once born alive they come as words like sweets
To melt and mix to build the needed cream
I create words of cream to make the toon
Something that I shall spin upon the moon
Something that I shall spin upon the moon
Seems to me nothing more than a odd dream
Yet here I do write a tale of a loon
That you might just dance to upon that stream
So seeking that adventure in the mist
I choose to take not the headed advice
Yet here I do choose those who might be kissed
Upon that hidden mask of words with spice
Create those hidden places among things
Mysteries when seen seem to be untold
The story of that so full of those rings
That echo loud and far to those few sold
Finding I choose the story of that tusk
As the fairy doth dance into the dusk
As the fairy doth dance into the dusk
I laugh to create the forest within
The forest that the fairy full of lusk
Created to hide away his great sin
To laugh inside I fly upon the words
I use the words to melt and mix my spell
For there is no need for those lies and cords
That you will tie around the gated well
Seeking only entertainment they come
Seeking entertainment they do not count
Counting down those echoes that silent drum
That only become the stories account
Sometimes I have to wonder on that tune
That I create a story of a loon
that I create a story of a loon
Or could it be a story for a soul
You see the loon is only in the moon
Yet the soul does delight all in the goal
I sit here, I create to my content
I don't stop to say aloud hidden words
I make sure to record that which is spent
Upon the moon sits and sings a blue bird
I find so many in this maze of mind
here it is written down upon the page
No longer we find it is intertwined
With the words that I did write for that wage
Then once again the fairy is a lusk
Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk
Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk
There full of the hidden secrets of men
The men and fairies who are full of lusk
They do hide them away here in the glen
Here they are hidden away in this place
A place so full of both the spies and lords
We shall find the women adorned with lace
Yet they so clueless to the hidden cords
As here men or faires that walk about
Hiding the truth or them in your plain sight
Yet here I do create a stage of doubt
As men of faires care not for the right
Looking I find I can't be overthrown
Oh wait, I find you sit upon that throne
Oh wait I find you sit upon that throne
You try to create, rule that which is mine
Waiting and watching as you take the zone
Creating something of your own design
Waiting I watch you as you take control
You the character seems the master now
You do dance away you do take your scroll
Down and about you do start to bestow
From afar you do grow and develop
Yet soon do I learn I do not create
You leap out over land to envelop
Now only a king can control your fate
Fighting to create I find in your eye
So high, so mighty you feel you might fly
So high, so mighty you feel you might fly
As you the master of your mighty fight
Seem to be in the line of that dark sky
You seem to think your fate is not a knight
You choose to dare and to defy my words
Transforming my words to air it doth seem
You reason with the story not as a byrd
You discover that you do like that stream
You follow that twisted path to the north
You go not alone but so full of those lies
The lies and spies of fairies that do go forth
Out ,about your followed by silent cries
You wrote a path yet if you could of known
Yet you do not know that I in the zone
Yet you do not know that I in the zone
Can still control this path if I so choose
So don't you dare try to cry or to moan
You do choose to ignore those hidden clues
Oh dear character of my heart, my soul
You did leap, bound farther than any before
Although far in mystery here is the troll
That you did not see upon your dark shore
As here I sit counting down those long paths
That will lead you to my desired one
For inside I do fight that wicked wrath
So free and loved you do think you have won
After a battle fought I stand nearby
Can create the path that causes you to die
Can create the path that causes you to die
Quietly I do watch you be so mighty
Totally unaware you feel so high
You do sit, you laugh feeling almighty
Yet I the writer is spinning this tale
You see you did catch me when unaware
Although I did figure out that it was frail
It that was my idea I’m in despair
As those hidden small words did launch so far
Off this silk pen and down this blank white page
They did land to create something bizarre
Hidden and unknown they did upstage
That plan I had is now in a debate
With my passion and love doth I create
With my passion and love doth I create
A character that of his own design
who was a knight did design his own fate
Now on that throne you're all but intertwined
The writer had believed to know it all
As the seconds fled upon a lost thought
To find that only you who was so tall
You could conquer all that was so distraught
There in that place you were so far of path
Following your mind fate did lead you to
That path I had fought with a writer's wrath
Here in this end we sit long overdue
I the writer now do open that gate
My world so full of stories that doth await
My world full of stories that doth await
It is full of those things only in dreams
Things created by those who don't debate
Between that which is created by schemes
If only I the writer had only known
That a character of such strong design
Will not be made to be only outgrown
But shall develop into that which will shine
To shine like this brave character of mine
Is something we all seem to all but lose
When we the writer choose to cry or whine
We then take a risk at being confused
Yet here I chose to choose and then apply
Doth create in a blink a master's eye
Doth create in a blink a master's eye
Gold painted not for the eyes to behold
So beautiful created not with dye
My words they seem to create something bold
Something that I shall spin upon the moon
As the fairy doth dance into the dusk
that I create a story of a loon
Yet there in the mist is the stories tusk
Oh wait, I find you sit upon that throne
So high, so mighty you feel you might fly
Yet you do not know that I in the zone
Can create the path that causes you to die
With my passion and love doth I create
My world full of stories that doth await
-Written by: Emma J. Willden
© April 9, 2016 - Emma Joy Willden
