This month’s sonnet is a reimagining of a song that reached the top ten twice: once when released by a Motown girl group in the 1960s, and again in the 1980s when it was released as a synth pop track by a British singer. The lyrics tell the story of a woman whose lover is doing what’s now called ‘bread-crumbing’… giving her just enough attention to stop her giving up and moving on.
Relinquish me
Relinquish me, belovèd, set me free
Release me from thy heedless grip, I pray!
I know now what thou lovest: ‘tis not me.
‘Tis eking out enough to make me stay.
Thy visits are a litany of pain
In which a toy thou makest of my heart.
Begone, I say, and let me heal again
as thou hast healed. My life would I restart.
“Though parted we are now”, quoth thou, “I hope
A friendship we can cultivate instead.”
This cannot be. My heart would never cope.
I cannot overrule it with my head.
If freedom is thy craving, let me go!
My heart upon another I’ll bestow.
Click here for the answer
The song is ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’, by the Supremes, and later re-released by Kim Wilde
