Scotch Mist
So there you are my friend, I thought youd gone.Not quite within my grasp unless I stretch,but reach I must so you may lay uponmy tongue though all I taste is bitter vetch.You give me legs to stumble...
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Hi Peter,I think this sonnet is most succesful. The diction, the punctuation... Especially the repeats: three times "so", "but" four times.The only point: the metre of line 8."My lips can smile, but...
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Dutch, in response to your invitation, to me the stress on "inside" would fall naturally on the first syllable in normal speech, given that Peter is contrasting the turmoil within him with the...
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Please be assured I'm not nitpicking here (nor anywhere). And of course I'm all aware of the "grit" re this excellent sonnet - like I already stated. I think your implied suggestion to the contrary is...
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I also noticed the problem in line 8, and don't think the "in-" can be stressed. Since I usually pronounce smile as 'smi-ul,' It seemed turning "I am" to I'm; which would make the line:My LIPS/can...
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Hi Crispin,You are of course quite correct about the stress involved in the word 'inside.' I was rather hoping that as this is a first person monologue rather than a third person narrative,the...
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Hi Peter,Thanx for your reply. Of course, having read it, I'm most willing to grant your friend all the credit a friendship deserves. So - as for me this regrettable incident is settled.Regards, Crispin
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Peter - Crispin - et al...Is there any rule that says we can't read the line as:"my LIPS/ can SMILE/ but IN/ side I/ am DEAD" ? (and if there is, is there a reason why it can't be broken or, at least,...
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Peter, this is a solid look at a sordid problem....I like your angle - even though he comes out a bit cleaner than in reality....I never even realized there was a reason for the different stresses of...
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Perhaps it might help to consider "outside" as well in this interesting discussion. It is subject to the same rule: Used as an adverb its stress is on the second syllable. Example: "It's cold...
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Fair comment, Dutch. The question I have, though, is, on what basis do you describe this as an adverb? I'm no grammar guru, but my reading of the word in context identifies it as a noun, and my...
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Hi Peter (aka Spindleshanks),Thanks for your contribution!Yes - I'm afraid we Dutch tend to be little grammar gurus. No wonder if one considers the amount of languages we are surrounded by out here in...
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Dutch, thanks for the lesson, and I happily defer to your greater knowledge of such matters.In the final analysis, however, to my mind logic still allows for stressing the first syllable. To...
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Hi Peter (aka Spindleshanks),Indeed - I'm not stubborn enough to ignore the value of the most interesting point you are making!Like you observed - in this case (line 8 of Peter's sonnet) we might have...
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