When I was loved by you I knew who I was
When I was loved by you the sun shone daily
And I could feel the warmth on my face
And there was a seductive security in your firm embrace.
When I was loved by you I could rest a while
When I was loved by you I could close my eyes
And hear your gentle breath through my restless slumber
In my turbid life you were my shelter and human anchor.
Now I am lost at sea, tossed and torn on turbulent tides
And you have left me for the love of another
Eyes wide open and sleep eludes me now.
Whose pillow will support my weary head
As I sail away from the safe shelter of your love
I stow the anchor slowly as the windlass grinds to a halt.
©Alison Jean Hankinson.
This was written for d’Verse where Bjorn challenged us to write an Italian sonnet. I have no idea if this lives up to what I understood of the form but I did give it a go. The image was from Wikimedia and labeled for reuse.
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Oh I really like how you used repetition in that first part, and then how it all grinds to a halt in the last.
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A beautiful love poem!
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Sad but so lovely. Some great alliteration in “tossed and torn on turbulent tides,” and assonance in the o sounds of “stow the anchor slowly.” Like a melancholy fog horn to close the poem.
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Nice description of the disorientation of losing a lover.
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Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Well written.
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I appreciate the contrast of emotions, from joy and warmth to being lost and torn on turbulent tides ~
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I also love the contrast presented in the octave and the sestet making the poem sweet and poignant.
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All at sea is the prefect metaphor for how we feel post relationship. Well done.
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You rocked the prompt, using heartache & love lost to thrust you into a solo journey, at sea alone. I love your last line–seems like you understand sailing.
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Lovely and who hasn’t lost at love before? Perfect description
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Once you learn there is no safe harbor but the one you save for yourself you are home free, but oh, how sweet it can be to be loved in that way. Nice write.
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Love the phrase “human anchor” and the callback to that in the chilling uncertainty we are left with in the final line.
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touching…
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I think you have understood the form perfectly! And I love your extended metaphor.
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You did a great job! Love gained, love lost – metaphors galore….I like how you built up the love and then…let it all go at the end. Beautiful sonnet!
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