Charles Harpur’s love sonnets to Rosa are a model for all love sonnets. Using the style and structure of a Harpur sonnet, write a love sonnet to your own beloved! Can you create images as fiery as his!
The sea of self-hatred, it floods and pulls you in
As we fold ourselves away on the higher shelf
Taught to love others, but how, when we can’t love ourselves?
To rot in self-hate and to shed our own skin
If God saw how we treated ourselves, well she’d call it a sin.
The most difficult confession I have ever made
Was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, telling myself that I had to change
The sea gets deeper, the thoughts grow louder, but you also get stronger
And I hope that one day, you no longer view your body as a gaol cell, but instead
A radiant sunny garden with daises that thrive
Burn away the thoughts that cause you dread
And be effervescently happy in simply being alive
I love the sound of vulnerability reminding me that
If winter has the courage to turn into spring, who says I can’t bloom just the same?
https://tenor.com/view/self-love-yourself-gif-7646184
Lili Braidner 
Hello Lili
Wow that’s all I can say. You not only eloquently completed the assigned task but created an emotive piece of art which managed to bring tears to my eyes. The vulterablity you displayed only overshadowed by the great courage you displayed voicing your volunerabilty. Great job.
Francesca
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This blog entry is incredible Lili!
I can tell you have put a lot of thought and effort into creating such a beautiful piece. I really like how you have taken a different approach to the question. Self-love is so powerful, yet it can often be overlooked and not seem as important as loving others.
‘Taught to love others, but how, when we can’t love ourselves?’ This question forces the reader to pause and ponder what it means to love themselves first. The first half of the sonnet is quite confronting and dark. I also loved how you changed perspectives and turned what once was ‘self-hate’ into a stunning image of hope. Which can be seen in the spring as all things blossom and become new.
You have used the style and structure of a Harper sonnet extremely well.
I am honestly blown away by this blog and believe it has a strong message tied to it. Great job.
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Congratulations on a truly beautiful piece of writing Lili! I had a smile from ear to ear reading this! It is such an original and timely piece to write about the love we need for ourselves before we choose to love another!
I loved your use of the sea metaphor of self hatred and the constant connection to nature. Your final line about winters courage to turn into spring is so powerful and added a lot of depth to an already beautiful piece. Well done on a truly wonderful piece!
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Lili!
I was so impressed upon reading your creative poem. I was amazed to see how your words possess such an intimacy which sensitively encapsulate the feelings of girls as they struggle to love themselves. I admire your courage to personally reflect and write about such a topic that is often a struggle to even talk about. I particularly like your reference to God being of female nature. I believe doing so allows your poem to become more relatable and by using the female God as a metaphorical greater force, emphasises the need for women to love themselves. Your reoccurring reference to the ocean again adds another layer to your poem, as the body is likened to the beauty and stature of the sea. This reference furthermore highlights the endless beauty that it is to be a woman.
I am personally related to this line, “The sea gets deeper, the thoughts grow louder, but you also get stronger” as I believe you cannot become a strong women without having experienced the adversity of the sea. In other words, learning to love yourself is a huge milestone which is generally only achieved after the negative thoughts and societal expectations have been tuned out.
However my favourite line in your poem is the last one,
“I love the sound of vulnerability reminding me that
If winter has the courage to turn into spring, who says I can’t bloom just the same?”
This line gives readers a sense of comfort and permission to love themselves which is often overseen within society today. It is typical that women are not told they are allowed to love themselves and I admire how your last line is giving permission and acceptance on this important issue.
I could not attempt to edit this work as it has blown me away with your generous understanding and capability to write such a beautiful poem.
I cannot wait to read your next poem,
Huge congratulations, well done Lili!
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That is a powerful short poem Lili that captures well the internal chaos that we sometimes have to confront and deal with. Well done. What a powerful outcome from reading an early 19th Century Male love sonnet!! I love your GIF too….
MG
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