Word Sonnet

Indranil Sarkar Quite contrary to the common concept of Sonnet being a rigid form of poetry, a closer study reveals the opposite. Like most other poetic forms, Sonnet also has undergone various thematic and stylistic changes, adaptations and modifications since its very birth in Sicilian soil nearly 700 years ago. The first name in this regard is obviously William Shakespeare. All the English Sonneteers, even the great masters like Wyatt and Surrey were experimentalists in this regard. But the Bard, who was primarily a playwright, brought not only thematic but also stylistic variations and created the concept of English Sonnet-form. Initiating the theme of Friendship, he showed the world that sonnets can be written on themes other than love of a Youngman towards his beloved. He also violated the 14 line myth and wrote sonnets of 12 and 15 lines (No.126 & No.99 respectively).Miltonic and Shelleyan endeavour of creating new sonnet pattern and on objectivethemes are not matters to overlook. Again, how can we forget the 10 line Curtal sonnets of Hopkins? All these unorthodox approaches are pointer to the process of transmutation and change in sonnet tradition. But the latest development in this regard is quite unprecedented as well as unbelievably eye-catching. These are the Word sonnets. And in a word, these are not only revolutionary but also mind blowing. 'Word' sonnets are the latest and newest development in the annals of Sonnet tradition. The first Word sonnet came into being only 37 years ago, in 1985. These sonnets are fourteen lines long, but with only one word set for each verse. These are in general concise and at the same time visual in effect. Truly speaking, word sonnets are 'a miniature variety' of the traditional sonnets.
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Noted American poet Brad Leithauser may be called a pioneer in this regard. His "Post-Coitum Tristesse" is considered as the earliest word sonnet. It was published in an anthology of New Formalist Poetry in 1985.The anthology was entitled 'The Rebel Angles'.Leithauser's innovative approach in this regard caught the attention of the poetic world and encouraged the poets to write 'word' sonnets in later times. In the same year (1985), the French poet Rene Nelli published more or less a similar type of sonnet called 'Sonnets Monosyllabiques'. Here, Nelli opened the poem with two quatrains followed by two three-line concluding stanzas. But each line contained only one monosyllabic word. 'Word' sonnets came to England in 1990. Irish poet, Augustus Young took the lead of popularizing it in the English soil. The University of Ottawa which is renowned for inventing the 'Haiku' poetry in its Campus is the breeding ground of present day literary wonder of Word sonnets also. It has been gained such an enormous popularity because of the direct patronage and practice of the form by Ottawa University teachers, scholars and students since 1985. Truly speaking, Ottawa University scholars have given birth to this new concept of Sonnets and they have also been nourishing it since then. Various line and stanza sequences in 'Word sonnets are undoubtedly one of the finest things to gaze. Word sonnets possess dual plane. They are loaded with visual beauty in addition to their poetic merit. Ones mind is filled with appreciation in just looking at the stylistic assortment of the words. The sonorous note soothes the mind in reading the words arranged thus. The increasing popularity of Word sonnets in recent times has made the scholars and critics interested to find its roots. In a recent blog by an
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American scholar and researcher named Stephen in the web page of www.attempt.com has revealed a stunning fact in this regard. According to Stephen, it was not the university scholars of Ottawa, but an unsung scholar, publisher and poet named Frank Sidgwick who created the word sonnet as early as 1921.Sidgwicks fourteen-line word poem, which he called a sonnet was published in the introduction of an anthology called The Sonnet. But, it was originally collected in a 1921 book of Frank Sidgwick's poems called More Verses. The first word sonnet as we call it today was located on page 47 of the said anthology. The title of the sonnet was The Aeronaut to his Lady. It was also a signed poem by the poet. Both the visual and thematic beauty of the sonnet is overwhelming.
The Aeronaut to his Lady 'I Through Blue Sky Fly To You. Why? Sweet Love, Feet Move So Slow!'
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-- Frank Sidgwick In More Verse it was published as the second of a little collection called "Two Sonnets": Sidgiwck meant it as a sonnet, tout court (i,e without additional information), and I think he's not wrong to consider it such wrote Stephen.

However, Word sonnets have established its claim to be a new variety of sonnets only in the recent years. Of late, literary critics attention in this regard has got a tremendous impetus and poets are zealously competing with one another to produce unique word sonnets. Almost all the practionars have been trying to provide some new dimensions, especially visual beauty to this. Kanata writer Glenn Kletke, for example, makes his fourteen words dart like a zigzagged row of children in "Kindergarten. Frank Cormier, on the other hand is producing triple" and "quintuple" word sonnets. Lets have a taste of the Word Sonnet from the works of a few renowned sonneteers of the present time--Damien Bailey Sylvia Adams Rebecca Leaver

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Vice or Virtue I've Encountered every vice and virtue out there but none as confusing as you.

Alone November afternoon waiting for my call she turns on the lamp to hear better. *****

Snow Angel Arms and legs flap like wipers On a windscreen leaving me an earthbound Angel.

Reference & Links:

1. Foreplay: An Anthology of Word Sonnets Edited by Seymour Mayne and Christal Steck 2. www.fridaycircle.uottawa.ca

3.www. stephenfrug.blogspot.com 4.www.attempt.com 5. www.creative commons.org

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