Hometown Sonnet

Seeing as I just got back from my first interview (as a want-to-be author)  by a local newspaper from where I grew up, Ystad, I thought I would start by publishing a poem about Ystad.

My Hometown

From a cloudy vision it will erupt,

For my childhood memories are faint, yet –

I am drawn and I want to return.

Not because of its safe environment –

Children and smiling mothers filling the streets,

Nor due to the old timber framed houses –

In which glorious Vikings used to live,

Nor because of its famous city core –

Which last year was crowned the best in Sweden.

My reason for returning is easy,

Here my body and soul was given life,

And here live my friends, those dear to the heart,

They bring laughter, erase sorrow and loss.

Here I can always return – My hometown.

This poem was first written for a  sonnet exercise at the University.  It can still be called a sonnet, since it retains the 14-line structure, but because it lacks a patterned rhyme scheme, I tend to say it’s just a poem (even if modern sonnets does not necessary need a rhyme scheme).

So what else can I say about it? I think the poem is rather self explanatory and overly cheerful if I am honest. Even though I enjoy going back to the town (it’s a city, really) where I grew up, the poem does not necessarily reflect my innermost feelings. Still, it is a nice Idyll poem which I honestly believe reflect the peaceful nature the town, at times, possess.

Now might be a good time to confess that I do not think of myself as a good poet. I have, at times, written poems I am very fond of (which will be published later) but it is not one of my strengths. I think having the amazing poet Luke Kennard as my poetry teacher really helped me write things that are, at the very least, readable. So if you want good poetry, look him up, and save me and my texts for whenever you want some good prose. The first chapter of a novel I wrote (which will remain that one chapter, since it was an exercise) will be published later.

In other news: Most of my work from my time at the University is on my laptop which, unfortunately, does not boot up because the charger is broken. If anyone has got a spare one they don’t need or want to sell – please contact me!

– F H Hakansson