Thanks to Charlotte for introducing this form of poetry to us in fave poets.

and she posted this piece there and so i copy it here so you get the idea....*laugh* that probably didn't make any sense, but you know what i mean! For John Gillespie McGee, Jr. .... All through my poet's life I've held aloft Your sonnet, like a torch against the night. It led me on, through darkened tunnels where I questioned my ability to write. They ask me who you are, and I say: He, A pilot-poet, died before my birth; His single sonnet, wordlit flame, belongs To all who write for joy of 'tumbling mirth'. (John Gillespie McGee, Jr. ... aloft where he belongs.)

sneaky, wolf! :) I could only locate one more. I wrote this for a friend whose first child was stillborn. In the Fortress of the Heart A heart attacked by pain will, over time, Construct a fortress that cannot be shaken; A place to shield the courage and the will To carry on with living when forsaken, And tend the crippling wounds that never heal. A parent, friend, or child that death has taken Will live forever here; and one day this Will be the place where joy will re-awaken.

oh how sad, Charlotte. and yes, time will heal this......

That's good Charlotte, Really good!!!

Good thing I'm not a blusher, Tim. Thank you.

Charlotte, are you published, somewhere? If so where?

Ok. Maybe I *am* a blusher. :) Nowhere that it matters, Tim. Had a poem published in the sci-fi magazine Aboriginal, and five or six poems printed in various small, unknown poetry journals. But no...just here, mostly. And my website. I think that counts as being published, don't you? Even if you publish yourself. :)

of course it does!

Here Counts, But I was hoping that there existed a collection of your works somewhere.

Charlotte, I've not wandered in here for awhile but I really appreciate your posts. The poems (Italian as it were in style) were beautiful

Thank you, Stacey! It's nice to see you again.

I'm looking forward to your next one, Charlotte.

Hi, Patrick! (Related to Frank, perchance?) I doubt if I'll be writing any new raccontinos. I rarely write any poetry anymore, and certainly not difficult poetry, like this form. :) I'm not sure why the well is dry...perhaps writing is a habit. Or perhaps my need to say things has lessened. Looking back, it seems nearly all of my poems were efforts to conquer a new form or idea, just to show myself (and anyone who was interested) that I could do it. It took me nearly 20 years to find the courage to tackle a sestina, another year to write one. And that was the last poem I ever wrote.

I usually write in periods of great change, stress or turmoil. Makes for some dark reading but I work things out well in my head when I write them out on paper. Funny you mentioned the Frank affiliation. That was my first thought when I read his name. Have you read Angela's Ashes?

Yes, of course. :) Did you know they are making a film of Angela's Ashes? And did you know that Frank McCourt was criticized for making Ireland look bad? The protestors said it wasn't really that bad. Personally, I'm on Frank's side. And I agree, Stacey. The greatest volume of my poetry was written during turbulent times in my life. Things are placid now, thank heavens, so I feel no great urge to write.

i write during some type of emotional awareness. when i feel something strongly, i guess is what i mean.

I Can Only Write When My Cat Wants To I write when my cat wants to sit on my forehead, eyes and nose I put his right front paw on my hand to see how it goes letters are formed into words as my worst fears come true and when Jah gets off my face I get off on it too

To answer your question, Charlotte: Although McCourt is not my legal surname, I am related to anyone named McCourt. I am also related to anyone surnamed Sitter.

Oh, I hear a story there, Patrick! My instincts also tell me that you are a writer. You dot your I's, and cross your T's. Tell us what you write?

Oh, and that was way good, Jim! Not precisely a raccontino, but are we purists? :) I cat will eventually exceed 18 pounds. Right now he's around 11 and looks like a giant tribble. If he ever sat on my face, you folks would never hear from me again. :)

lol!!

Charlotte, you are a wonder. I have never written anything to be published. However, I have done extensive work on my family's geneology. I am currently working on a history of the Texas Navy. My main problem with this is that every time I think I'm finished, something else pops up.

That's always the trouble with writing history, Patrick! History is constantly changing. What I am writing this instant will be history in a few minutes. You have to think of it in terms of chapters. Complete one chapter, then another, while yet another is unfolding before your eyes. (Apologies for my earlier typo. I meant to say that my cat is expected to exceed 18 pounds and currently weighs around 11 pounds. My fault for trying to think before coffee.)

The problem with the Texas Navy is that it was largely ignored by historians. I keep coming up with new sources of material. The Navy was formed in 1836 and disbanded in 1845.

I wrote a poem in that form several years ago, although I didn't realize there was a name for it. I thought I was just too slow to finish a sonnet. To Milton John Milton, through your blindness you did see more of the world than most will ever know, and with your sonnets you have touched my heart in ways that I have not the strength to show. The beauty of your words has long survived to comfort those who still must deal with fate, and bring some peace to us when we recall "They also serve who only stand and wait."

Aloha John! Thanks for joining Spring and may I be the first to welcome someone I actually know in real life! You will find me various places throughout (check Babes and Screwed)...I am absolutely delighted to see you here!

BTW, beautiful piece of Raccontino. This is a side of JB I never knew existed!

Thank you! I like that a lot.

I don't think it's really a raccontino, John. The key ingredient in a raccontino is that a phrase is formed from the title and the last words of the odd numbered lines that summarizes the poem. To milton, see heart survived recall. Still, it is a lovely poem, no matter what you call it.

In the immortal words of Jim Carrey, "Alrighty, then."

Welcome, John! Hope to see you wandering around the rest of the Spring... okay, well maybe another conference or two then...

Wer (sorry I got your name wrong in the Geo conference). Thanks for the welcome, and Ms. Wolf, thank you for the terrific poetry from you and other contributors. This is a pretty cool site and I have Marcia to thank. I don't have the time to spend on it that she does, but I find it interesting and the people intelligent and stimulating.

*blush* why, you're so welcome mr chips, er, john, or, jb...alright, which is it? nice tribute to milton, no matter what it's called!