Sonnets by Bottou- chan Gomen! So instead of my usual curatorial duties... I found myself working the museum giftshop for two hours today. So to keep my mind active, I accidentally ended up composing four sonnets. ^_^;;; I apologize in advance for anything I might produce this weekend, when I'm scheduled to spend fourteen hours working there... @_@ Remember, sonnets are 15 lines each. These are Shakespearean (English) sonnets, which go ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. And I tried keeping it in five-stresses-per-line (iambic pentameter), although I _did_ vary from that (on purpose) in a few cases. -Bottou-chan ***** From Raiha to Fuuko: A Sonnet   O Fuuko-san, my goddess of the wind, I stand and watch your fighting from the side. Around the ring you jumped, twisted, and spinned; You fought with grace, with dignity and pride. How swiftly your opponents seem to fall! They fight, but then they soon submit to you. Although I haven't faced Fuujin at all, Still, Fuuko-san, I fear I've fallen too. How admirable your innocent ideals, As you refuse to kill your vanquished foes; Your kindness to your enemy appeals-- This conqueror's kindness on my heart bestow. For I've been trounced as well as any you've fought; As should I not be also spared a thought?     ***** (The third stanza has a different beat... but I liked it, so I kept it.) Reminiscing-- Kurei's Sonnet   Born amidst much happiness and joy, Set aside to make room for another; I fell from heir to ordinary boy. The oni killed my father and my mother. I flew four hundred years through swirling time, Was taken in by Tsukino-sama kind; But happiness seemed never to be mine, As Mori-sama further warped my mind. And those I loved were doomed to die-- Yet loveless lives are worth but naught. Mori's murdering dog was I, In this endless cycle I was caught. And so I hide behind my faceless mask, To let my nightmare end is all I ask.   *****   (Here, I gave the last line of every verse 6 beats.) It's Not Time-- Raiha's Sonnet   Pinned beneath the murdering hulk of Noroi, My thoughts on death; my heart for better life pines; My reluctance to fight for real Kurei annoys-- I wish I could, I fear I can't, it is not time. Trapped inside a dark and rocky cave, My raijin could ensure we all were fine; It's not by me, but by Kurei we're saved-- I wish I could, I fear I can't, it is not time. I jump inside Soukakousai's cauldron deep, I need to rescue Fuuko from that swine; It's not the raijin which saves us from that creep-- I wish I could, I fear I can't, it is not time. Why don't you use it? so many voices chime-- I wish I could, I fear I can't, it is not time.   ****   The Requiem Defeated-- Neon's Sonnet   I stood upon the porch and rang the bell, The red-and-blue haired girls were at my side; With no family or friends, our life was hell-- But pleasant-smiling Kurei took us inside. Soon we were ensconced as Kurei's maids, And loyally we worked to make him proud; Until the murder of our Kurenai-- Then as Uruha, we asked to be allowed. We fought to make our master well and pleased, Hoping we could somehow assuage his pain; Yet through our murering fingers those two squeezed-- So they're alive... and I shall die in shame. I close my eyes and await the final blow-- I'm pleased to die for you, I hope you know. BACK TO THE FANFIC SECTION