Parting is such sweet sorrow...

When I initially created this challenge, it was to do all 154 sonnets in one year. While we're not there yet, we are at over 70 sonnets - a pretty successful year if you ask me!

I've been doing lots of thinking about this project over the last six months. I've realized very recently that while I LOVE (seriously - LOVE) working on Shakespeare, it just doesn't make sense for me to continue with this project right now.

Because of what else I'm working on and how excited I am about it all, I'm finally at a point where I can't take time away to work on this challenge (I wondered if/when this day might come).

Thank you SO MUCH for your support and for your interest in what's been happening here. It's been nothing short of wonderful to work on these works week in and week out for the last year, and to share that with all of you.

You are always welcome to submit for the Challenge and I will definitely post it. This is not to say the Sonnet Challenge will never return; let's just say we're enjoying a lengthy intermission...

I do have a feeling I'll still involve Shakespeare in my life in some capacity - I can't get away from it that easily!

If you're interested in what else I'm doing, you can see over at Nonstop Awesomeness.

All the best,
Nathan

Day 72 - Sonnet #84: comparison, praise, verses, rival

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WOW - it's already been ONE YEAR! :-)

If you'd like to see how it all began, here's Day #1. I think we've come a long way...




Who is it that says most, which can say more,
Than this rich praise, that you alone, are you?
In whose confine immured is the store,
Which should example where your equal grew.
Lean penury within that pen doth dwell,
That to his subject lends not some small glory,
But he that writes of you, if he can tell,
That you are you, so dignifies his story.
Let him but copy what in you is writ,
Not making worse what nature made so clear,
And such a counterpart shall fame his wit,
Making his style admired every where.
You to your beauteous blessings add a curse,
Being fond on praise, which makes your praises worse.


What line or lines most resonate with you?

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 71 - Sonnet #59: beauty, birth, comparison, praise, time, history

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Musical version




If there be nothing new, but that which is,
Hath been before, how are our brains beguiled,
Which labouring for invention bear amis
The second burthen of a former child!
O that record could with a backward look,
Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Show me your image in some antique book,
Since mind at first in character was done.
That I might see what the old world could say,
To this composed wonder of your frame,
Whether we are mended, or where better they,
Or whether revolution be the same.
O sure I am the wits of former days,
To subjects worse have given admiring praise.


What line (or lines) most resonates with you?

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 70 - Sonnet #145: dark lady, hate, love, insecurity, mistress

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a special thank you to Link for his cameo...

for more info on 145 - check out the Wikipedia page




Fun visual example




This isn't strictly by the text, but I LOVE how much energy they put into the interpretation - way to make it clear!



Those lips that Love's own hand did make,
Breathed forth the sound that said 'I hate',
To me that languished for her sake:
But when she saw my woeful state,
Straight in her heart did mercy come,
Chiding that tongue that ever sweet,
Was used in giving gentle doom:
And taught it thus anew to greet:
'I hate' she altered with an end,
That followed it as gentle day,
Doth follow night who like a fiend
From heaven to hell is flown away.
'I hate', from hate away she threw,
And saved my life saying 'not you'.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 69 - Sonnet #66: corruption, death, abandon, regret, dishonesty

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Tired with all these for restful death I cry,
As to behold desert a beggar born,
And needy nothing trimmed in jollity,
And purest faith unhappily forsworn,
And gilded honour shamefully misplaced,
And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,
And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,
And strength by limping sway disabled
And art made tongue-tied by authority,
And folly (doctor-like) controlling skill,
And simple truth miscalled simplicity,
And captive good attending captain ill.
Tired with all these, from these would I be gone,
Save that to die, I leave my love alone.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 68 - Sonnet #21: muse, truth, comparison, verses, beauty

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fyi - rondure = roundness, sphericity



So is it not with me as with that muse,
Stirred by a painted beauty to his verse,
Who heaven it self for ornament doth use,
And every fair with his fair doth rehearse,
Making a couplement of proud compare
With sun and moon, with earth and sea's rich gems:
With April's first-born flowers and all things rare,
That heaven's air in this huge rondure hems.
O let me true in love but truly write,
And then believe me, my love is as fair,
As any mother's child, though not so bright
As those gold candles fixed in heaven's air:
Let them say more that like of hearsay well,
I will not praise that purpose not to sell.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

May Sonnet Schedule

Here's the schedule for the month of May - and do I remember correctly that April showers bring May sonnets? Either way, let's get out sonnets ON!

Week of May 2nd: 21

Week of May 9th: 66

Week of May 16th: 145

Week of May 23rd: 59

Week of May 30th: 84

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!