modern love sonnets

sophia swettenham | Fall 2021

Albert

A bustling bar with bunnies on the wall—
At once I feel so young and so mature,
Each tease, a little push—I fear I’ll fall:
Your eyes are devious, mine still demure.
Cherries and grenadine, I’m bubbling pink,
Drowned in your attention—total, flirty.
You slyly pour your bourbon in my drink,
Intoxicating me: now Shirley’s dirty.
An “absinthe love song” you claim I once sang
Insisting that you knew it was for you,
I can’t recall, but my heart nearly sprang
Out from my chest, thinking you think this true.
Nefarious or sweet—you test, I’m coy;
With me you’ll play—with memories, you’ll toy.

Paul

A year has passed since on the street I wept
And begged your heart in my favour to sway,
Trailing my knees along concrete, I crept
Toward your prideful form: you turned away.
My mind obsessed, holding all thought of you
As thought supreme; a crude idolatry,
Deluded youth—a soul indebted to
Misperceptions and naïve fallacies.
Revealed, you were not as I thought you were,
Alas, no god, but a dissembling snake,
Intent not to reciprocate, but lure
Confessions of true love, while yours were fake.
Shattered, I lived a year of faithless days;
Renewed, I now love in more prudent ways.