Had I but a Brush (Shakespearean sonnet)

by Larry Chamberlin   Mar 25, 2018



Had I but a brush to paint all the world
capture each moment and every twist
colors would blend in a galaxy’s swirl
reflect pure scarlet of lovers’ first kiss.
Had I but a brush so magically sure
path of ancient glacier down to the sea
hummingbird wing beats before sky azure
show each in its time, slowly or fleetly.
We paint with our words for others to find
pour feelings into pigment textured true
for sad and happy to find life anew
majesty and grandeur, sight to the blind.
Spread out the wide world and loosen your tongue
forever will hearts of poets be sung.

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Latest Comments

  • 6 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Hello Larry,

    this poem is a real tribute to words. Like an artist we use words to paint with - we paint everything and more.

    Sonnets are a form I have struggled with. Their many restriction present barriers for the painter - like painting an thickly swirled ceiling. How do we get the paint to conform the the rules?

    Your sonnet is a good stab at the form; it uses wonderful language in a tight syllabic form. As for the iambic pentameter, this, I feel, requires revision to make this sonnet truly sing.

    All the best.

    Michael

    • 6 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      I find I write as I speak & do not do well with IP. I should deny IP as a natural form of language, but too many good poems use it. Simply not many of mine.

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