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!

Day 67 - Sonnet #138: dark lady, truth, insecurity, age, love

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some cool videos today - including footage of the RSC (Trevor Nunn & David Suchet) working on this sonnet!

AND - happy birthday to William Shakespeare! see how lots of other bloggers are celebrating at www.happybirthdayshakespeare.com, and follow the party on Twitter via the tag #HBWS.






from the vook "Shakespeare in the City"...





cool project for an English class...





Musical version...




Trevor Nunn & David Suchet working on sonnet 138...



When my love swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutored youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue,
On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed:
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love, loves not to have years told.
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 66 - Sonnet #62: jealousy, guilt, sin, self-love, defence

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Mike Ackerman with another sonnet!



Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eye,
And all my soul, and all my every part;
And for this sin there is no remedy,
It is so grounded inward in my heart.
Methinks no face so gracious is as mine,
No shape so true, no truth of such account,
And for my self mine own worth do define,
As I all other in all worths surmount.
But when my glass shows me my self indeed
beated and chopt with tanned antiquity,
Mine own self-love quite contrary I read:
Self, so self-loving were iniquity.
'Tis thee (my self) that for my self I praise,
Painting my age with beauty of thy days.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 65 - Sonnet #85: muse, modesty, praise, rival, superficial

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My tongue-tied muse in manners holds her still,
While comments of your praise richly compiled,
Reserve thy character with golden quill,
And precious phrase by all the Muses filed.
I think good thoughts, whilst others write good words,
And like unlettered clerk still cry Amen,
To every hymn that able spirit affords,
In polished form of well refined pen.
Hearing you praised, I say 'tis so, 'tis true,
And to the most of praise add something more,
But that is in my thought, whose love to you
(Though words come hindmost) holds his rank before,
Then others, for the breath of words respect,
Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 64 - Sonnet #6: seasons, innuendo, procreation, death, immortality, treasure

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Mr. Chile provides excellent context and notes, and there's a great reading:




from Joe:




and another solid reading:




Then let not winter's ragged hand deface,
In thee thy summer ere thou be distilled:
Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place,
With beauty's treasure ere it be self-killed:
That use is not forbidden usury,
Which happies those that pay the willing loan;
That's for thy self to breed another thee,
Or ten times happier be it ten for one,
Ten times thy self were happier than thou art,
If ten of thine ten times refigured thee:
Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart,
Leaving thee living in posterity?
Be not self-willed for thou art much too fair,
To be death's conquest and make worms thine heir.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

April Sonnet Schedule

Here's the schedule for the month of April (no foolin' :-) - let's get out sonnets ON!

Week of April 4th: 6

Week of April 11th: 85

Week of April 18th: 62

Week of April 25th: 138

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!