Following the Bard--By Zona Rowand Lawrence--United States

Following the Bard

The sins our freedom allows us to do
Often so when I am away alone
Your youth, and gentle way me does behoove
To watch your lips, my thoughts I must atone
Your sweetness leads to the line of my heart
Handsome you are, and much to be desired
Thus if a man woos, how can he depart
Until he reaches what he has aspired
Oh dear, you might consider now my plight
Hear the plea for growing old together
Your presence is so special in my life
I do not expect to change the weather

You in your manner offers love to be
Pray your steadfastness will not lie to me

After many years as a stage performer, Zona found she enjoyed writing. She studies at Paradise Valley Community College.  Her work has appeared in several anthologies at the school and elsewhere. In 2004, she won $20,000.00 for her poem, “Indiscriminate Sestina.”  She and her husband, Jack, are creating a Diet by Poetry Journal to help whittle away those pounds with a little rhyming fun. Last year in the Paradise Review her poem, “If He Had Hit Me”, won third place and her one act play, “A Shaggy Dog Story”, won second place.