This book contains thoughts and emotions as observed by the author over a twenty month period of self-discovery. Not only of himself but more of seeing how people really are. Also contained within are 15 acrostics that serve as a surprise to complete the sonnets where they exist. Can you find them all? The reader will find 6 series sonnets as well, such as the wedding vow sonnets, 7 deadly sins and 7 virtues. As stated in the preface, enjoy.

Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Heartland Sonnets

By Steven Higgins

AuthorHouse

Copyright � 2009 Steven Higgins
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-0003-5

Chapter One

Resilience

When times are so hard and there seems no end And nothing ever really will go right Never focus on the negative plight Keep up the struggle to make all things mend

Stop all the worry mind what you must tend Make haste to get done all things with your might The way you think may be good but not quite Do not let the day make your own thoughts bend

Do not be proud get what you need to wend So that all tasks here will make trouble light Let not your thoughts turn to that which brings spite Make all effort true so not to expend

Know that those around will be there for you And you being good will always shine through

New English Style

Who taught Shakespeare how to write a sonnet Why did he decide it should be that way Now I come along with something to say With new structure of a pattern to set

No arrogance here on that you can bet However from the old ways I will stray To blaze a new trail and to hope and pray You will accept this without a regret

With this writing I will surely not fret There may be some to come forth and say nay I have the backbone to say come what may To let you know you have seen nothing yet

Many examples from this can be found This new English style with pattern so sound

Senseless Direction

Where am I at in the grand scheme of things And as sure as the days have come and passed Do I yet realize that life's molds are cast And who can tell me what the future brings

From where comes the sound as the siren sings Whom do I owe for experience massed Just how must I feel to hope unabashed How must I aspire to the ranks of kings

To what do I strive what ultimate goal Commonplace; which do I seek, ambition Such decisions as my conscience rings

For I, a haggard stag not yearling foal Abundance; which stance I take, attrition For progress of self to which my soul clings

When Darkness Falls

Complacent wand'ring through the path of life A hesitant look for some wisdom's light Accumulating weight of daily plight To meander and stumble, suffer strife

Constantly striving to try to make sense Thoughts turned to rubble from shattered conscience Regretting desire to seek acceptance Wishing for answers but finding absence

And when darkness falls the world's weight astounds Nothing seems right and no real direction Enter wise counsel to show better way

Desperate for help no matter what grounds No longer faded without affliction Coping made simple return light of day

Sorcerer/Familiar

I try not to hate but you are a rock Which I shan't pass by though I see my path When said that you need and I spark my wrath 'Tis not a great thing but more of a shock

I quake when you call as I hear thy knock And you say once more give your thoughts a bath I fear what is next I have done the math I am wont to hear the fear of the talk

You must see your place for it is not here To seek help of one is not your own waste What should take place next if on the next day

If not then you see we all live in fear To let there be peace and a state of grace So you must go forth and find your own way

RESOLVE

We know who we are look not in the past To look for the why or to try to seek Thus not fail to try to reach for the peak The path is not far the way not so vast

For both rich and poor the mold has been cast We have our own strength let us not be meek Our foes still at length shan't prove to be weak If there must be war we must all stand fast

We have seen the sight we have seen the cost We know that the way shall be long and hard For those deep in strife so great is the range

Can we bear the weight as we mourn the loss Yet with each new day we gain one more yard Our own way of life should not be so changed

We Need To Talk

Which way will it go our coming discourse How will she react need I be concerned Have I surely done well with her trust earned Or sad will it end with much great remorse

What must I do with her thoughts to endorse Will she soon know for her long I have yearned Or just ignore me making me feel spurned What can I say for my heart to enforce

Will she be open I do hope of course Will her avoidance be then overturned What words shall I use that I may be heard Will the path be clear or will it be coarse

Worry and fret will she remain or walk Such simple answer that we need to talk

Discretion

When you mind what you do things may go right Focus on what you seek though you want more Think before you speak no one will be sore Effort to decide you will see the light

Use caution to see what could cause you plight Enrich your future to never be poor Listen with intent and ignore the lore So clear your head to thus improve your sight

Beware all your thoughts they may lead to fright Disregard people when bad show the door Know where you go keep your feet on the floor As always eyes front not look to hindsight

To keep from being bereft in mourning Heed the note as a definite warning

Admiration

I see you work so hard and I am spoiled In spite of madness that is all around A smile on your face you always rebound And ever a kind word as you have toiled

Although I have seen how your blood has boiled Not to be quiet you always resound It seems to me you will never be downed People mess with you but you leave them foiled

You still catch an eye from those that are near But it matters not, they do not know how Household or workplace you do face a zoo

Who cares what they say although you may hear The person you are, you should take a bow What I have to say is I admire YOU!

What's Wrong?

I cannot sleep, I cannot eat; nothing Times certain feelings that I have to hide Then times when I feel so empty inside I know not what is going on; something

Could I be better with you; ev'rything And what guideline must we two thus abide And what to punish if we do deride I think of the two of us; anything

What best ideal for me to feel; one thing The times I know I must deal with my pride Then times I know you will certainly chide What touch have you to soothe; the sweetest thing

I still know not but perhaps you can see Just what in the world could be wrong with me

Stronger Than Me

So much to do but only so much time Many times you see yourself in a bind As you deal with the ever pressing grind And you think how much further you must climb

You feel so tired but is that such a crime With the hours you work you feel so resigned To a dream of life that could be refined And yet there is still all the filthy grime

Do any care if you make a thin dime Do any notice how much you have shined Or how you stay the course so weakly lined Or without pity, alone in your prime

You have toiled and tried but without relief You are stronger than me beyond belief

Serene

Trouble yourself not with cares of the day And let not your thoughts do so darkly deem Calmly go forth as you have surely seen Keep a light heart let that path be your way

All about posture keep darkness at bay You see how you work and how you have been A struggle in life good choice is no sin And keep fighting the good fight ev'ryday

Do stay the course let the morrow be bright Mind your wits and not allow any tempt Keep your focus let nothing wrong enter

You do have a skill is it second sight You do have the strength to cause to preempt You should be peaceful and keep your center

Evocative

Thank you for the way that you inspire me I enjoy the way you became my muse Your friendship is one thing I shan't abuse You help me create that which is to be

To think times without you would be empty Is to come to know your thoughts I could use As I maintain there is no real excuse Without you these would be naught around me

Now no thought or means that could be paltry Something about you sparks me to just think And I am compelled to then play and write

For you evoke such desire so sultry As I openly emote to the brink I forget you not any day or night

Jaded

When I first saw you it was all too clear The way you looked, the way I felt so close The manner in which you took to repose Your lack of notice has caused me to fear

I look upon you and wish to be near But your response seems as if you would doze And I guess that is the way that it goes So would I be a man to shed a tear

Perhaps I should look to a nearby peer Though not completely sure of what he knows Or just what could the outcome may thus pose My thoughts in turmoil as my mind will sear

I know how you are it is plain to see For you and I to touch can never be

Compromise

There must be something that we can now say A way to placate how each other feels So that neither one will go off to reel And spite or bad thought will be kept at bay

Either one of us can have a bad day But does that mean that our friendship shall steel Or the way we are like a roulette wheel To fail each other in a slipshod way

Now at this point a compelling display Is there a way that we might make a deal Can we find something to agree to seal Just that I will meet you gladly halfway

Come promise that we can find common ground A way and means so fair and just and sound

Concern

I love the way you show me that you care A kind word can and will carry much weight To know you worry some about my fate Your thoughts and knowing of me are so fair

So many go through life feeling so bare Little to emote in their mental state Even less to give from upon their plate But we always seem to have much to share

Sometimes you freeze, all I get is a stare Then there are those times when I cannot wait Knowing that when you speak your words will sate My thoughts of something bad you will soon pare

I beg you accept my friendship you earn And do keep showing me your sweet concern

Fortitude

Do you have the guts to see these days through Though you may not like the sound of my tone You know that you must show your own backbone And I believe that is what you will do

For I know your mind sound and your heart true But a body so tired may make you groan And critics may speak words that seem to drone The one to stand fast will always be you

If you need the strength you can always pray There is no shame to admit one feels weak You must have a path for what the course deems

You do have the clout to get through the fray No one could ever say that you are meek And it is never as bad as it seems

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Heartland Sonnetsby Steven Higgins Copyright � 2009 by Steven Higgins. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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