Everything Depends Upon So Much

THE SONNET IS A 14 LINE POEM

WITH TEN EQUAL SOUNDS PER LINE AND ONE RULE

THEY BE ACCENTED OR UNACCENTED

AS WITH MOST THINGS THAT EVERYTHING DEPENDS

UPON

FOR WHY ELSE WOULD THERE BE DIVISIONS IF

NOT TO DISTINGUISH WHAT COMES AND GOES: TIME?

AS IT NEVER DEPARTS YET SAYS GOODBYE

SO MUCH IT SAYS HELLO TO EACH SECOND

AND LIKE A RED WHEELBARROW or WHITE

CHICKEN, IT IS DRAINED OF COLOR THEN TURNS

INTO CRYSTALS OF ITS OWN HOURGLASS
HALTING FOR NOTHING TO BEGIN ANEW

AS THOUGH RHYMING OR NOT RHYMING HAS DEW

IT MEANS NOTHING TO A SONNET AT ALL



To Spring and All, 1923 William Carlos Williams