Dear Philip - do not despair.
The sonnet I posted was a piece of devil's advocacy. In a way I am delighted that it appeared so convincing but it was actually published in a collection that included many "straight" sonnets. The poet to whom it was dedicated hardly ever used form. When asked for her advice on how to handle negative criticism, she said that my rhyming "got me noticed" and that the more avant-garde critics saw me as fair game. So I fell on my sword with a grin on my face.
Incidentally I wrote an article on The Sonnet for Poetry News at their invitation after I snuck one under the wire in the National Poetry Competition.
So - thank you for your concern, but you don't have to worry. Much.
|