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Thursday, August 14, 2008

SUMMER DAY REFLECTION ON SHAKESPEARE'S SONNET #18


Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:








Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometimes declines
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:









But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:



So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

7 comments:

Stephanie Frieze said...

Beautiful post, Joseph! What a wonderful way to return to the Neighborhood. You have a beautiful voice. Thank you for sharing it with us!

Jaynie Jones said...

Wow!!! It's wonderful to have you back. You are a breath of fresh air...

JosephMcG said...

It's good being back... thanks Stephanie and Jamie

Kim Thompson said...

What a fitting return. I can't wait to see what you do next.

JosephMcG said...

Thanks, Kim, neither can I???!!!
Joseph

Lorraine Hart said...

Beautiful, Joseph...sorry I'm late to the welcome back party! Can never get enough of Shakespearian Sonnets....

Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took.
And each doth good turns now unto the other.
When that mine eye is famish'd for a look,
Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother,
With my love's picture then my eye doth feast
And to the painted banquet bids my heart;
Another time mine eye is my heart's guest
And in his thoughts of love doth share a part:
So, wither by thy picture or my love,
Thyself away art present still with me;
For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move.
And I am still with them and they with thee;
Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight
Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight.

JosephMcG said...

I have learned a tremendous amount about writing from reading William Shakespeare's work and I especially appreciate his wonderful ability to creatively take the culture and language of his time and move many people to let go of the hurt and fear in their lives and live hopeful lives...

Joseph