# Write me a Sonnet! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084 "2003-12-10T03:57:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/1 "2003-12-10T03:57:32Z")
My sister wants an example of a Sonnet. I’ve never written one. So, someone write one. Hehe. BTW, she’s 15. Nothing dirty, ple-aze. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/2 "2003-12-10T04:09:01Z")
[Learn from Shakespeare.](http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/3 "2003-12-10T04:11:50Z")
Yeah . . . but she doesn’t want a Shakespearean sonnet. Don’t ask me, my sister is crazy. She wants an example of a modern-day sonnet so she can figure how to write one for class. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/4 "2003-12-10T04:21:13Z")
[Sonnet Central.](http://www.sonnets.org/) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/5 "2003-12-10T04:21:59Z")
Here is an example of a sonnet, Iambic, rhyming A B B and A Here in the octave (but the sextet may Rhyme differently–soon you’ll know more of it). If you wish to cogitate upon it, You’ll find the octave goes a certain way, Presents a thought. If you the rules obey, You’ll find the sextet takes a little twist. I’ll rhyme this section C D E, et cet., Because I am a modern sort of girl. The sextet shifts the thought on what’s begun. Yeah, I can write a sonnet. Want to bet It’s possibly the worst one in the world? –But still a sonnet. Animist, it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/6 "2003-12-10T04:25:13Z")
LOL They should teach that in schools. I’d’ve remembered how they were structured if it was taught to me in sonnet form. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/7 "2003-12-10T04:26:48Z")
If it’s a modern sonnet she wants, she can rhyme it pretty much how she pleases. The modern rules are: \*14 lines of 10 syllables each \*More or less an iambic foot (buh-BUH) \*Maybe a shift in topic or perspective partway through \*Lines rhyme: Often ABAB CDCD EFEF GG or ABAB CDCD EFG EFG Me, I like ABCDEFG GFEDCBA, but I’m a troublemaker. Is your sister sure she doesn’t want to write a sestina or a villanelle instead? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/8 "2003-12-10T04:27:58Z")
Thanks. Actually, the first line isn’t iambic, but what are they going to do, send the meter police? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/9 "2003-12-10T04:34:31Z")
She has to write a Sonnet for school. And now she has one, so all is right with the world. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/write-me-a-sonnet/218084/10 "2003-12-11T07:05:43Z")
Life is good.