The Walter Robin Manuscripts
The Sonnets

From the simplest stroke the campaign is begun,

When your eyes first my defense did assail.

Besieging till Solitude's citadel's won,

Confident that your bold strength would prevail.

Virtue and Kindness are lined up in ranks,

With Love as the captain and Beauty in the van,

With Wisdom and Wit set to cover the flanks,

And Purpose and Patience creating the plan.

Fair in the field you first put Fear to rout

Defending the moat Complacency died,

You soon overran the gatehouse of Doubt

At last you were storming the keep of my Pride.

Ye fair maids that would play the wooers part,

May learn: Faint lady never won fair heart.

Author's Notes

For this, I chose pentameter over quadrameter. I found the quadrameter too constraining.

Copyright © 1999, Andy Borman (Walter Robin). All rights reserved. Contact to reprint.