The Hendianne Sonnet Structure - Methods One and Two

For good or evil, modern technology is manifesting that it has the capacity to define who we are as a people; what we do and how we behave. You may wish to debate this among yourself. However, there is no denying that technology is shaped by tools (used in the broadest sense of the word) it is the making, the modification, the usage and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, craft, systems and methods of organization. Let me say though, a tool is any physical item that can be used to achieve a goal, especially if the item is used up in the process. In an informal way, it is used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. When tool is used in specific endeavors or activities different designations are ascribed such as; instrument, utensil, implement, machine or apparatus. Tools needed to achieve a goal go by the designation “equipment”. The knowledge of constructing, obtaining and using tools is technology.

Technology began way back when humankind converted natural resources into simple tools, example; controlling of fire for cooking, etc; the invention of the wheel and the possibilities it has created. By the mid 20^th Century, mankind had achieved a mastery of technology that allowed for the exploration of space. Weapons of mass destruction have progressed from clubs to nuclear weapons. In this 21^st Century modern technology is seen in the printing press, telephone and the internet. By and large, these have lessen the physical barriers of communication, thus we are able to interact on a global scale. Every aspect of human, animal, plant and other living creatures in the air, in the waters have been embossed with the tattoo of modern technology. Modern technology is the innovative platform that supersedes previous technologies by creating new or improved methods or procedures and tools by taking away relative painstaking drudgery from manual activity facilitated by various technology tools. As we approach more decades in this century new modern technology for good or evil, no doubt will emerge, for “the writing is on the wall”.

Where is modern innovation found? In such areas as construction technology, medical technology, animal and bird technologies, plant technology, marine technology, food technology, space technology, communication technology, education technology, information technology. It is against this background that the poems “Birthday Wishes from the Cloud” and “Cyber Sweethearts” were created in a new form called the Hendianne Sonnet.

Sonnets are lyric poems made up of fourteen verses that express the personal mood, feeling or meditation of a single speaker in the present tense. Lyrical poems may be set to music. Traditionally lyric poems were accompanied by the lyre a plucked string instrument associated with ancient Greece and consisting of a U-shaped frame with a crossbar from which the strings stretch down to the sound box. The Hendianne sonnet structure draws clues from renowned English sonneteers William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser and the Italian sonneteer Petrarch. The name of the sonnet “Hendianne” is a combination of the surname of the poet’s husband Edgar Hendy who passed away on June 6, 1995 and her sister’s first name Angela who died on September 16, 2006.

Guidelines for Method One as well as an example of a poem structured along these guidelines are shown in Table 29a below and guidelines for Method Two are shown in Table 29b.  

Table 29a

Procedures Use rhyming pattern aa aabbbb ccdd ee	Examples
Introduce the theme or problem with Opening Couplet (two verses) rhyming aa	This day is special for Bobby Stallone;       a A guy who lives in the northern time zone; a
Develop the theme or problem with a Sexain (six verses) rhyming  aa bbbb	I better call him ow on telephone;                a Sing him a song with melodious tone            a From my country home, outside Montreal;    b While I wait eagerly for first snow fall;          b To give  him gifts I purchased in the mall,      b To match his tattoos, wrinkles, warts and all;  b
Show the turn or shift in speaker’s tone, mood or stance with a Quatrain (four verses) with any one of the following; “but”, “yet”, “and yet” rhyming ccdd	Yet brushing off hardships I have carried         c Loads of commitments, to kids so candid;       c Watching heaps of sugar ants dominate            d The icing which keeps dripping off the plate;    d
Use a Couplet to bring a logical solution or conclusion to the problem rhyming ee	Happy Birthday to you, my handsome mate;    e From the cloud, I wish for you all things great. e
Birthday Wishes from the Cloud This day is special for Bobby Stallone; A guy who lives in the northern time zone; I better call him ow on telephone; Sing him a song with melodious tone From my country home, outside Montreal; While I wait eagerly for first snow fall; To give  him gifts I purchased in the mall, To match his tattoos, wrinkles, warts and all; Yet brushing off hardships I have carried Loads of commitments, to kids so candid; Watching heaps of sugar ants dominate The icing which keeps dripping off the plate; Happy Birthday to you, my handsome mate; From the cloud, I wish for you all things great. © Paterika Hengreaves (August 2011)

 Table 29b

Procedures Use rhyming pattern aab bccdde eff gg	Examples
Introduce the theme or problem with Opening Triplet (three verses) rhyming aab	Did I tell you, just how special you are!       a The light that you emit lights my star,           a Beaming the glow of love we are sharing,     b
Develop the theme or problem with a Sexain rhyming bccdde	Your fingers on my heart strings repairing.       b Bill Gates has built for us this band new home, c Where free-spirited souls like ours can roam;    c Though the oceans are keeping us apart,            d Your nights do give my days a real kick-start;   d You way down under, I way up yonder;            e
Show the turn or shift in speaker’s tone, mood or stance with a Triplet with any one of the following; “but”, “yet”, “and yet” rhyming eff	But poles apart cannot this love falter;       e Since e-mails give me many a chuckle,       f And life is sweet in this cyber bubble;         f
Use a Couplet to bring a logical solution or conclusion to the problem rhyming gg	So, as we both face the Christmas season,   g Star of David shines in cyber Eden        g
Cyber Sweethearts Did I tell you, just how special you are! The light that you emit lights my star, Beaming the glow of love we are sharing, Your fingers on my heart strings repairing. Bill Gates has built for us this band new home, Where free-spirited souls like ours can roam; Though the oceans are keeping us apart, Your nights do give my days a real kick-start; You way down under, I way up yonder; But poles apart cannot this love falter; Since e-mails give me many a chuckle, And life is sweet in this cyber bubble; So, as we both face the Christmas season, Star of David shines in cyber Eden. © Paterika Hengreaves (August 2011)