My heart be brave, and do not falter so,
Nor utter more that deep, despairing wail.
Thy way is very dark and drear I know,
But do not let thy strength and courage fail;
For certain as the raven-winged night
Is followed by the bright and blushing morn,
Thy coming morrow will be clear and bright;
’Tis darkest when the night is furthest worn.
Look up, and out, beyond, surrounding clouds,
And do not in thine own gross darkness grope,
Rise up, and casting off thy hind’ring shrouds,
Cling thou to this, and ever inspiring hope:
Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ fierce the fight,
There is a power making for the right.
So often sonnets always feel like prayers to me. The rhythm to the heart seems like talking, pleading, willing the words to come true or come a message to others...
ReplyDeleteJames Weldon Johnson-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Weldon_Johnson
This year in particular I have been absolutely fascinated with memoirs of all kinds. I crave to know the person behind the poem and it has been quite entertaining to read their bios before or after I read the poems. I never appreciated memoirs such like now. A person's story and past and what they choose to tell you, compared to their fictional works or other forms of art just fascinate me. What would you reveal>! Who ARE YOU?!
James Weldon Johnson wrote an excellent book called, Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Add it to your list (it's fiction but still). I don't distinguish much between fiction and non-fiction. Memoir either.
ReplyDeleteYou need to read The Art of Memoir. The author is so passionate about memoirs. She sells every book she discusses and brings out so many insights for writers.
I have a hard time reading sonnets.
The mood is strange. There is a blend of positive and negative connotations. The message is bright, but more words are dark. I see a black and white hip hop music video type picture in my head.
autobiography of an ex-colored man was not an excellent book
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