Similar Sense Twin Sonnets: Paired Sonnets
A Fair Lot with Bucephalus
“How fair a lot to fill
Is left to each man still.”
~ Matthew Arnold “Sohrab and Rustum”
Most men do not desire a fair lot, just.
They want the universe or even more.
Great Alexander filled his world with lust
For land, land, land and kingdoms on the shore
Of power’s infinity. A Faustus wants
The same or even greater realms, the far
Horizons of an cosmos. Hellesponts
Loom up for conquering, to thrust and spar
With every obstacle, and then begin
Again as ruthless as an angel by
The throne of God and never mind the sin
Of holocausts as slaughtered cities die.
Impossible is what man seeks. The Medes
And Persians fall, slight victims. Man stampedes.
Beyond Mere Galahad
Instead you might attempt to do one thing
That most men fail to do: learn how to know
And be yourself. Learn how your soul can sing
Its conquering psalm. Learn how your heart can grow
The utterness pre-settled in it, all
That it is meant to turn to empires still
Unknown, to grasp its solar system sprawl.
Imbibe like Hubble all the stars until,
Interior, you know the total worth
Of galaxies awaiting their design,
Of your perfected constellations’ girth
And depth. Build up your inner shrine.
All other grails are worthless echoes of
True triumph. Head for this one goal above.
~ Phillip Whidden
by phillipw | Oct 17, 2024 | Uncategorized |