When I think of a sonnet I think of Mr W Shakespeare in his Elizabethan universe. My preferences may be biased by my English-ness. However, it is worth noting that the Shakespearian Sonnet is one of many forms and can trace it origins to Italia.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet)
A Shakespearian Sonnet can generally be thought of as an expression of a single complete thought written in 14 lines of iambic pentameter adhering to a set rhyme scheme.
– an idea
– a metaphor
– dedication to iambic pentameter (iamb being an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable e.g today and pentameter meaning five feet or repeating the ‘iamb’ five times).
– a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg
1. Brainstorm ideas and metaphors
I wanted to write a poem for my mum and she reminds me of my brown bear.
2. In the first quatrain introduce main theme and metaphor:
Brown bear, you were there before I could walk
Before I could laugh, before I could dream;
Brown bear, you were there before I could talk
Before I could cry; before I could scream.
3. In the second quatrain; elaborate and provide examples:
My life story is intertwined with yours
we unearthed the world one step at a time
we climbed hills and walked across the moors
our corner of the world was so sublime.
4. The third quatrain represents the turning point or realisation:
Seasons have turned and I’ve grown like a tree
I’ve flown the nest; I work in the city;
But here you are… Still watching over me
just how nature intended it to be.
5. Summarise or conclude thoughts or as in this case expose the metaphor:
There is just one thing I would like to say;
thank you mother, for being there, always.