Good Advice: How to Storm the Castle

[georginasand]

This week's (or actually last week's, it's been a little crazy around here on account of workshop being run at second-job) prompt at Big Tent asked us to write a poem inspired by our favorite poem. Although it isn't my favorite poem, my favorite line of poetry comes from John Donne's Holy Sonnet XIV: "Knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend." It has always struck me as good advice about how to live well, so I used it write a sonnet comparing coming-of-age/entering the work force to storming a castle. The reference about tigers comes from the best advice I got heading off to college: "Smile, be yourself, and watch out for tigers." Thanks Gryff.

Good Advice:  How to Storm the Castle

Knock, upon the door that's locked. If it's
rusted hinges will creak or bend you'll
never know until you peer through the slits
or closed castles, and beg to be their fool.

Breathe--the climb is hard, the tigers fierce
and dizzingly close when lungs are furled.
Air is your elixir if you would pierce
the membrane between you and the open world.

Shine, for shutters open to the light.
That light, from bulb, or torch, or Gd, is yours
to shine. Warmth and bright light open petals;
Heat ignites atoms and makes fires roar.

And seek to mend, be it windows you break,
or toes you tread: there are always hands to shake.

As always, there are other responses (and some of them awesome--look for the Dylan Thomas inspired villanelle) at Big Tent.