Sonnets - J.R. MacLean

Sonnet on Persephone Today

Persephone in glossy mansions dwells
With magazine delights to thrill the weak;
On trophy-wife glass thrones with Gucci smells
Are cushioned stolen beauty's pampered cheeks .

In Vogue's bizarre domain, 'neath thin disguise-
Tres chic young models pose in fashion's fair-
Afflicted, haunted, vacant drugstore eyes
Betray that Hades is their husband there.

Emerging ego is a subtle thief,
Abducts young energy it keeps detained,
Retreats to selfish realms of pain and grief-
So frantic mother soul withholds the rain.

Persephone you see is living still:
In life, and deep inside, to test our will.
-



Sonnet on the Rain
(for Louise)

If joys sublime and hard-felt hurts become
Full blended like hilltop rain is all cloud
Then grievous blessings which any would shun
Are trials redemptive and healing allowed.

When hot tears burn craters like new-forged pores
In scorched brown skin of a marshmallow heart,
They acid-wash glue from murky glass doors
and open vistas that banish apart.

On oily asphalt’s deeply hidden stain
Diversionary droplets splattering,
Can I see sorrow, pain, and gain as rain-
Eliciting bright rainbows, scattering?

Just wash me rain, fine-sift my blood of sin
Cleanse heart’s dark glass, let the bright colours win.




Sonnet on Lilacs

Behold the lilac’s floating clusters fair-
Soft petaled fingers supplicate the sun;
With perfumes perfect, suffuse warm spring air-
Then bob and dance on breezy gusts for fun.

Can such abandon scrutiny survive
Or will scented secrets be yielded to
A microscopic study by close-held eyes
Dissecting pheromones and spectrums blue?

Tight quartered blossoms in blossoms we see
A thousand snug bundles trembling to burst
As single puffs in multiplicity:
No matter when, no matter which is first

A moment each is given to release
Sweet fulsome nectar, heady balm of peace.