Friday, April 23, 2010

Poetry Friday: Shakespeare's Birthday



Today is Shakespeare's birthday, so in his honor I am posting one of his sonnets. There are so many wonderful ones to choose from, but I chose this one because it talks about what really matters: others may have greater reasons to boast than I do, but I rejoice that I "love and am beloved."


XXV

Let those who are in favour with their stars
Of public honour and proud titles boast,
Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars
Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most.
Great princes' favourites their fair leaves spread
But as the marigold at the sun's eye,
And in themselves their pride lies buried,
For at a frown they in their glory die.
The painful warrior famoused for fight,
After a thousand victories once foiled,
Is from the book of honour razed quite,
And all the rest forgot for which he toiled:
Then happy I, that love and am beloved,
Where I may not remove nor be removed.

Here's today's Poetry Friday roundup.

6 comments:

Janet said...

I love the idea of a marigold in a staring contest with the sun...

This makes me think of I Cor. 13.

Is this your blog's birthday too? If so, happy birthday!

Ruth said...

Janet, how did you remember that? Yes, it is -- I have a post scheduled about that for later today.

Thanks!

Author Amok said...

The idea that love can be too powerful to remove or be removed -- wow!

Laura said...

Hi Ruth,

Yes, love does endure all things . . ..

Laura Evans
all things poetry

Anonymous said...

Ditto what Laura said, love too powerful to remove! Thanks for sharing this.

Mary Lee said...

Happy birthday to Shakespeare and your blog's birthday!!