A Sonnet to my Valentines

by Pat Laster


T o celebrate this holiday, I’ll try
O utlining, crafting English sonnet form.

M y further, harder task will be to tie
Y et other undertakings to it: warm

V ernacular, like choc-o-late, plus rhyme
A nd meter (dull iambic, some folks think).
L a-bor-ious it may be, this winter. But,
E ach word must serve to build and fill a chink.
N eglectful, some folks overlook a “turn”
T he sonnet needs. For now, I’ll turn to snow,
I de-al during February. Spurn
N ot cold; delight in its short visit! Oh,
E lusive muse, Erato–– Valentine,
S tay with us, love us––snow or not. Be mine!

c 2012 by Pat Laster dba lovepat press