Day 29 - Sonnet #29

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How Fortune smiles upon us - #29 on Day 29!

And I've decided to bring more people into the Challenge who have already put themselves out there by scouring online for more videos! Pretty cool stuff out there! Take a look and then join up! :-)

I've added Matthew Macfadyen, Rufus Wainwright, an ASL version, a short film, and a few other brave folks!

And in addition to all the videos, we also have a choral submission from The Antaeus Company and the William Tell Aggeler Opportunity High School (Chatsworth, CA). The collaboration connected at-risk students with Shakespeare's at-risk characters. These teenagers, many of whom have been convicted of felonies and all of whom have faced what most of us would perceive as insurmountable obstacles, worked with the ensemble members on the text. Below is their rendition of #29 - very awesome and thanks to Antaeus for sending the audio over!

Of course what I have is just a handful of what's out there - if there are other versions you'd like me to add, or have one you want to add, check out the "How To Upload" page above. Any questions - just send me an email!

Aggeler Audio:

a cool word cloud from a poetry blog: http://lv17.wordpress.com/2009/01/27/sonnet-29-william-shakespeare/

When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon my self and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least,
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 24 - Sonnet #28

Thrilled to add the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as a member of the Challenge - see #57 for their submission!



How can I then return in happy plight
That am debarred the benefit of rest?
When day's oppression is not eased by night,
But day by night and night by day oppressed.
And each (though enemies to either's reign)
Do in consent shake hands to torture me,
The one by toil, the other to complain
How far I toil, still farther off from thee.
I tell the day to please him thou art bright,
And dost him grace when clouds do blot the heaven:
So flatter I the swart-complexioned night,
When sparkling stars twire not thou gild'st the even.
But day doth daily draw my sorrows longer,
And night doth nightly make grief's length seem stronger.

As always - feedback, comments and creativity are welcome!

Day 5 - Sonnet #57

Here's an entry from Liz with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (main site & blog)!






Being your slave what should I do but tend,
Upon the hours, and times of your desire?
I have no precious time at all to spend;
Nor services to do till you require.
Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour,
Whilst I (my sovereign) watch the clock for you,
Nor think the bitterness of absence sour,
When you have bid your servant once adieu.
Nor dare I question with my jealous thought,
Where you may be, or your affairs suppose,
But like a sad slave stay and think of nought
Save where you are, how happy you make those.
So true a fool is love, that in your will,
(Though you do any thing) he thinks no ill.