Dear Bachus,

Thank you for your comment and the trouble you have kindly taken to reflect upon "Cecelia". As you are aware, each line of a sonnet has 10 beats. Line seven, just like all preceeding and subsequent lines has ten beats. However, you may be right, if for instance, a grand Shakespearean actor of the old school pronounced "every" with three syllables rather than with the modern practise of pronouncing it with just two. I am flattered that you took the bother to write a comment. Thank you. By the way, this was a fiercely felt poem, very much from the heart. She said to me a year after we broke up (she dumped me) that "if you love me, you will prove it by writing me a sonnet". So I studied Will Shakespeare's better sonnets and decided she was the opposite of the summer's day, the sonnet for which he is most famous. Three months after writing her the sonnet, she yielded to my charms and we were engaged. Three days later she broke it off - telling me that she felt our life together was not going to work. I never saw her afterwards. She died of cancer nine months later. The poem "Maria" describes my resurrection.

Best wishes,

Nicholas

Well, Mr Thomas, thank you. But what is wrong with missiles?Surely the preceeding hail and spearing rains are missiles? They certainly feel like it when they pound my body. Perhaps you have a tougher hide. Anyway I am delighted you enjoyed the juxtaposition of the fragrant Audrey Hepburn and Viking gene. But that is women for you. I will check out your verses now.