The Mad Sonneteer

The sonnet, the whole sonnet, and nothing but the sonnet!

[themadsonneteer]

How Much of Me Must Burn?

By Bud Koenemund (Written: May 2026) For “Her.” Heat endures, though I wonder if it’s worth Fanning embers of a love that’s dying; Going cold by neglect, and growing worse When it seems I’m the only one trying To rekindle those bright flames of passion – Once incandescent – desire that burned In our souls. Shall I accept affection Will never revive? The respect I yearned For denied, my heart glows on a pyre Since your scorn; while what sanity remains Is condemned to the maelstrom of Hell’s fire. True, I offered all… and would again; Yet, a tragic question lurks in that storm: How much of me must burn to keep us warm?

[themadsonneteer]

Seen

By Bud Koenemund For Lindsay “In the right eyes, you will be art.” – Unknown How could any set of eyes miss the art Contained within you? Even those who don’t Create illumined by you feel your heart: Acknowledging grace as artists are wont. Though it is, in truth, the job of poets To praise beauty; ‘tis thy inspiration – Arising from your spirit, more than my wit – That gives birth to these celebrations Of radiance. All things, seen and unseen; Love and lust; denial and desire; The chaos of black, white, and gray between, Feed the maelstrom of a mind set fire. I must give credit where credit is due: The world will know these words belong to you.

[themadsonneteer]

The Green-Eyed Girl and the Supermoon

By Bud Koenemund (Written: October 2025) For Lindsay The green-eyed girl, like some ethereal Being, gliding, ghostly in the moonlight, Guided him across the sand. The feel Of her hand, warm and soft in his, delighting Every sense, while his intellect failed; Yielding all to love, lust, and lunacy. Reaching the water, she turned, her face veiled In shadow, and kissed his lips eagerly. His arms enveloped her, pulling her close – A beauty, wondrous, to rival that bright Body celestial – Nature’s awe exposed; In sky and on earth, a heavenly sight. But, like all dreams, this vision could not stay; On waking, fantasy faded away.

[themadsonneteer]

Sunshine and Rain.

[themadsonneteer]

Half

By Bud Koenemund (Written: April 2024) Half of my heart is still in love with you; A notion foolish as it is sincere, When that affection’s forever imbued By sadness: growing more and more austere. Half of my mind is still in love with you; Yet condemned to recall happier days, ‘Fore passion incandescent went askew; Leaving intellect and sanity razed. Half of my soul still belongs to you; Though ‘tis now mortal – crushed beyond the repair Time can grant; a solace long overdue – As I stumble about in my despair. I seek a peace I fear I’ll never find, While memory and shadow intertwine.

[themadsonneteer]

A Warrior Poet's Soul

By Bud Koenemund (Written: December 2023) For Christina Alvarado My mind cries out, profaning the universe; Mourning, o’er and o’er, this tragedy – An assault on existence – while cursing A suppos’d caring god’s perfidy. I wish I could hold you in my arms now; Embracing gently; a reassuring Touch to defy despair and doubt; somehow Granting peace – a balm easing suffering. But, I know the strength you possess: spirit, Resolve, stubbornness, and tenacity; With a warrior poet’s soul. Sans fear, You’ll tilt ‘gainst fate for immortality. I have and will always love you, my Friend; Sentiment which shall endure ‘til time’s end.

[themadsonneteer]

From Dust to Dust

By Bud Koenemund (Written: September 2023) Why would I fear something I have wished for, Even tempted, nigh on 25 years? What suffering exists beyond abhorred Death’s veil that could eclipse pain endured here? I should welcome an end to this torment – The unceasing agony called life – which Has left both intellect and body rent; Bereft in spirit; with a soul of pitch. Unafraid, I hold surrender not a sin; I’ll embrace the darkness; finally Set free from worldly struggles; whole again, Someplace where these griefs no longer bind me. From dust, to dust, and thus a debt is paid When I, at last, am by the Reaper bade.

[themadsonneteer]

When Forever Doesn't Mean Forever

By Bud Koenemund (Written: September 2023) Words often evolve over centuries; Rising and falling while meanings altered. Some are lost in language’s vagaries, Disappearing, to be re-discovered In not-always-ancient texts; re-defined – Even the victim of mistranslation – Gaining life hence as lexicons refine; Embraced for use by new generations. But, I believed one word inviolate; Sacred and immune to fate’s quickening; Spoken always without fear or regret, Until the day I learned love means nothing. How does a heart find strength to persevere, When forever doesn’t mean forever?

[themadsonneteer]

Wanton Ambling Nymphs

By Bud Koenemund (Written: May 2023) I fear perfect love is but fantasy; A fiction dwelling solely in my brain; Some trick of the mind’s creativity – That domain where wanton ambling nymphs reign O’er intellect; suffused by fairy tales Oft’ ending happily ever after: Though illusions inevitably fail When affection’s nativity yields hurt. These dreams ne’er align with reality, As I awake confined in loneliness. Yet, this despair does afford clarity – A recognition of unworthiness. Time’s passage will prove no balm for my soul; I am left without cure to make me whole.

[themadsonneteer]

No More Desire for Light

By Bud Koenemund (Written: April 2023) I know one way to express devotion: Offering my entire heart and soul – Withholding nothing; risking emotion Perilous; braving passion uncontrolled By intellect. And, the cost has become Too dear as torment strips vitality, Inducing me to wish all feeling numbed – Surrender slouching toward finality. In truth, love has caused me nothing but pain. Though, I doubt any revelation Of zeal could bring joy when such unrestrained Affection only invited destruction. I will feign no more desire for light; Leaving my soul abandoned and blighted.

[themadsonneteer]

Wolf and Hind

By Bud Koenemund (Written: March 2023) For Lindsay “Is this what you want?” I ask, even as I squeeze, choking off her breath to reply. She struggles – tempted and teased; slow and fast – Her body craves release, which I deny. Lust will once more transform two into one; The heat of desire burning our minds; A hunger for flesh leaves us both undone, While devouring each like wolf and hind. Though I am in charge, this domination Is dual pleasure – mine derived from hers; Every sense overwhelmed by passion. When the little death comes, all Reason’s blurred. This fire between us can’t be contained; Concupiscence – intense and unrestrained.

[themadsonneteer]

I Belong!

By Bud Koenemund (Written: March 2023) For Jenna In humans resides a passion for art. Through poetry, ink, music, paint, or song Many endeavor to express their heart And soul; an act declaring “I belong!” Despite critics – the worst living within Our own minds – we persevere: creating; Hating; destroying; beginning again; Working; changing; crafting; re-editing; Seeking a perfection that oft’ eludes The grasp of mortals; ever contending ‘Gainst doubt; utilizing talent imbued To produce genius. And, at our end, It matters not if results were obtained By tiny increments or sweeping gains.

[themadsonneteer]

Remember to Forget

By Bud Koenemund (Written: March 2023) I wish I could remember to forget – Awakening one day, finally free: My mind unbound, and Reason manumit; No more a prisoner of memory. But, what liberty would that erasure Provide? Only temporary respite? Or, a balm healing the wounds I’ve endured; Allowing re-birth of spirit and wit? Time, I fear, will never grant me solace – Peace has yet to suffuse my weary soul. Indeed, though years have burned away apace, Your absence still exacts a grievous toll. Recollection brings you back to my brain, E’en as I seek deliverance from pain.

[themadsonneteer]

Wondrous and Magical

By Bud Koenemund (Written: March 2023) For E. With apologies to William Shakespeare I would compare thee to a summer’s day; But, that one’s been done before, by better Wit; and verses, I fear, are overplayed When pretty words, more than actions, matter. Though my muse could ne’er want for invention While you, fairest of fair, do grace this earth, My prose struggles to match inspiration – A predicament oft’ a poet’s curse. Be assured, I pray, these creations Speak truth: exalting spirit unrivaled; A soul soaring beyond comprehension, And mind seeking the wondrous and magical. My willing labor is thy praise, Empress; To bestow immortality my quest.

[themadsonneteer]

Unrepentant

By Bud Koenemund (Written: December 2022) For Lindsay Lady, I do confess, my desire For you turns bestial. My thoughts border On the profane – lust burns like a fire – While reason collapses in disorder. The more consumed, the faster madness grows, And I can scarce trust my own intellect. In the end, this passion will overthrow My mind as hunger amplifies unchecked. For concupiscence, I ask no forgiveness. Unrepentant – holding appetite No sin – I seek salvation in excess When your flesh provides heavenly delight. I pray; bless my body and damn my soul Eternal; for I will you e’er extoll.

[themadsonneteer]

We Said Our Goodbyes

By Bud Koenemund (Written: August 2022) Of course, I had to see you walk away – My eye drawn to you like a firefly’s Light in darkness – while memory replayed The moment when passion withered and died. Of course, I had to see you walk away; Enduring one more stab in the heart. Unable to simply go about my day: You’d just be gone; leaving me torn apart. Of course, I had to see you walk away. We’d said our goodbyes already. But fate Wouldn’t allow peace, and time won’t belay Pain. Still, I’ll not let my love become hate. Each day, I seek to put sadness behind; E’en as your absence constantly reminds.

[themadsonneteer]

All the Words in the World

By Bud Koenemund (Written: June 2022) How oft’ did verses take birth in your eyes; As if each glimpse granted inspiration? I prayed those poems to Heaven would fly, And sway thy bosom with proofed affection. I wanted, for us, immortality – Bestowing fame lasting beyond our years; This ambition surpassing vanity: More a devotion of toil and tears. In the end, though, my efforts achieved Nothing but changing pain for passion true; When desire conspired to deceive An ever foolish man who dared love you. This song mourns the impotence of my art; For all the words in the world won’t win your heart.