An experiment with the sonnet form that turned out ok, but not as good as I would have liked it to be. The emotions are honest though, and for that I’m satisfied with the message. I’ve never been fully at ease when I’m experimenting with a particular style that I’m unfamiliar with. I guess that I tend to concentrate more on the structure of the work itself rather than the message, and to me the message is everything. It was surprising even to me that the final couplet turned out to have a positive swing. The sonnet started out as very dark and brooding, because that is what I was feeling as I was writing it; the fact that it ended on a positive note really pleased me because I wasn’t expecting the work to take me that way. I believe that under the surface, most of my work carries some sort of positive message, even through the somber tone and gloomy text. I think that I was writing them to motivate myself to better the situations in my life at the time. By writing the truth, I was able to face it, to understand it, and to deal with it head on. I never tried to hide behind my writing, to use it as a shield or an excuse, I always wanted it to be a catalyst to encourage me to better my circumstances and bring about a positive change. It’s been said many times, but I do believe it—a man must hit his rock-bottom before he can be sufficiently motivated to affect his state in a positive way. I suppose that writing these works during my rock-bottom helped me to climb out of it, and to alter my life for the better. For that, I am thankful.

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