4 short sonnets about love by a Japanese woman

Hello, I’m Nishiguchi, a teacher in Taguchi Private School.

田口塾の西口です！

Recently I learned about sonnets and crowns, and I wrote 4 sonnets.

最近「ソネット」と「クラウン」について学んだので、私も4つソネットを書いてみました。

I’ll translate and explain them in Japanese in another article.

日本語訳と日本語での解説はまた別の記事で行いたいと思います。

Characteristics of my sonnets

Like Shakespeare’s sonnets, every sonnet has 14 lines, and the rhyme is “a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g.”

But each line of my sonnets has 7 syllables, while that of his sonnets has 10 syllables.

My 4 sonnets have different stories, but the structure is the same: conversations in 12 lines, and monologues in the 13th and 14th lines.

The last line of the first sonnet is the first line of the next sonnet, so are the last lines of the second and the third ones.

Lastly, the last lines of the 4 sonnets make another 5th story in combination.

My sonnets

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Let’s go to eat lunch today 

I don’t go in heavy rain

We’ll enjoy it anyway

I don’t like the crowded train

–

Let’s go shopping tomorrow 

I do have nothing to buy

You can find something, I know

Satisfied with shops nearby 

–

Let’s go for dinner sometime

We have to stay home at night 

It’s alright for a short time

I don’t think that you are right 

–

I could go before I knew

My friend fell in love with you

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

My friend fell in love with you

I’ve no interest in love 

You know who I refer to

Sorry no idea I have

–

You have seen her more than twice 

So many’s applicable 

Her smile and voice are so nice 

Anyone is possible 

–

You may see her as a friend 

That is why I don’t realise 

To others you must attend 

Don’t have friends to analyse 

–

If she were a man I could

I will not love her for good 

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

I will not love her for good

Why on earth did you break up 

Couldn’t make myself understood 

You’ll find new love to start up

–

How are you and your husband 

We’re always in a good mood 

Why can you have a strong bond

Because we like the same food 

–

Have you two ever argued 

Just once but soon we made peace 

You know the world of Hey Jude

We are like the masterpiece 

–

It’s not true but don’t see through 

Indeed I’m in love with you

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Indeed I’m in love with you 

Do not give me a present 

Why do you tell me not to 

Because you are my student

–

I’m looking at you in class 

Concentrate on your study 

Thinking of you on school bus 

Please do not think about me 

–

I will try hard to be loved

Please do not make such efforts 

I don’t eat to lose one pound

Don’t fast but instead play sports 

–

I am glad to know your bid

In fact I love you too, kid

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

My friend fell in love with you

I will not love her for good 

Indeed I’m in love with you 

In fact I love you too, kid

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Supplement

In the 4 sonnets people don’t succeed in love for different reasons.

However, in the 5th story, the two people did!

Of course the lines rhyme like “a-b-a-b.”

About writing in rhyme, I found it very enjoyable,and especially I like this following part.

Have you two ever argued 

Just once but soon we made peace 

You know the world of Hey Jude

We are like the masterpiece 

“Made peace” and “masterpiece” rhyme, and “the masterpiece” refers to “Hey Jude,” a famous song by The Beatles, which is about the importance of loving someone honestly.

Thus, “You know the world of Hey Jude” means “You are so earnest that you love each other successfully.”

How painful given that she actually loves him with whom she is talking!

Thank you so much for reading, this is Nishiguchi in Taguchi Private school.