Author Topic: Poetry Page (Read 725230 times)

bellamarie · « **Reply #4600 on:** October 07, 2016, 08:28:11 AM »

Our Poetry Page Reads
Shakespeare Sonnets

2016 the world commemorates
400 years since the death of William Shakespeare.

April, 1616. A man died, but a legacy was born; one which proved
so essential not only to the development of
drama and literature, but to language, to thoughts and ideas.

A Sonnet a Day
July 1, till December 1,
We read in order, from 1 to 154
A Shakespeare Sonnet each day.

Welcome
Please share your comments about the day's Sonnet.

Link: First Post of Our Discussion on July 1

Shakespeare Anniversary Links

Discussion Leaders: Barb

Sonnet 98

Here he is saying that even though the beauty of the flowers and songs of the birds during Spring should be enjoyed, without his loved one he can not be inspired.

Sonnet 99

He attributes all the beauty in the flowers as being stolen from his loved one. A bit obsessive I would say.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4601 on:** October 07, 2016, 10:01:31 AM »

Sorry Bellamarie - I've been off my mark and you were caught again - but your message does nicely pop out so that is a consolation.

For convenience I've replaced Sonnet 99, the last post of the last page with the Witches Song from Macbeth and put Sonnet 99 here on this page.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4602 on:** October 07, 2016, 10:01:50 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet LCIX

The forward violet thus did I chide:
Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells,
If not from my love's breath? The purple pride
Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells
In my love's veins thou hast too grossly dyed.
The lily I condemned for thy hand,
And buds of marjoram had stol'n thy hair:
The roses fearfully on thorns did stand,
One blushing shame, another white despair;
A third, nor red nor white, had stol'n of both
And to his robbery had annex'd thy breath;
But, for his theft, in pride of all his growth
A vengeful canker eat him up to death.
More flowers I noted, yet I none could see
But sweet or colour it had stol'n from thee.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 99
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI7KjUL2cQk

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4603 on:** October 07, 2016, 10:29:29 AM »

Seems to me I only read recently a myth about a king providing his son with that which he desires - the son desired a wife and took a flower putting it on the floor and magically he waves his scepter and the flower becomes a huge pile of flowers that quickly take the form of a woman and then the woman emerges who becomes the wife for his son. I was reading some of the Welsh myths so maybe that is where I read it. If so than Shakespeare would know or have access to the myth.

Found it... not exactly the story I recently read but close - a wife made of flowers from the Forest.

“Blodeuwedd (pronunciation: bluh DIE weth [“th” as in “weather”]) is the Welsh Goddess of spring created from flowers, and the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, son of Arianrhod and is a central figure in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi.

In the late Christianized myth, She was created by the great magicians Math and Gwydion to be Lleu’s mate, in response to a curse pronounced by his Mother that he would never have a wife from any race then on the Earth.

They fashioned Blodeuwedd from nine types of blossom–oak, meadowsweet, broom, cockle, bean, nettle, chestnut, primrose, and hawthorn–and breathed life into Her.

She proved treacherous to Lleu, and She and Her lover Gronw Pebyr plotted against him, killing the invulnerable Lleu by tricking him into the only pose in which he could be harmed. Blodeuwedd was punished for this by being transformed into the night-bird, the owl, though She kept Her name–in Welsh, blodeuwedd, meaning “Flower-face”, is a name for the owl."

bellamarie · « **Reply #4604 on:** October 07, 2016, 11:59:09 AM »

Interesting myth Barb. In your myth, a wife is formed from flowers, who betrays. In Shakespeare's sonnet the flowers were formed from his lover, who betrays.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4605 on:** October 07, 2016, 12:11:10 PM »

Interesting Bellamarie I had not caught that - the betrayals...

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4606 on:** October 08, 2016, 12:26:46 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet C

Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long
To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?
Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song,
Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?
Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem
In gentle numbers time so idly spent;
Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem
And gives thy pen both skill and argument.
Rise, restive Muse, my love's sweet face survey,
If Time have any wrinkle graven there;
If any, be a satire to decay,
And make Time's spoils despised every where.
Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life;
So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife.

Shakespeare Sonnet 100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNpJmiA6lYo

PatH · « **Reply #4607 on:** October 08, 2016, 11:40:06 AM »

Back to the muse. I was enjoying the flowers. A variation here. He wants the muse to come back right away, so the poet can praise the beloved before time has ruined his beauty and it's too late.

Have you noticed that with all this talk of the beauty of the beloved, there isn't any actual description? The flower sonnets are as close as we've come, with the complexion of red and white like the roses, the breath of violets and roses, and hair scented of marjoram.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4608 on:** October 08, 2016, 08:46:28 PM »

PatH.,

Quote

Have you noticed that with all this talk of the beauty of the beloved, there isn't any actual description?

My take on it, is because he is a figment of Shakespeare's imagination, a dream, a fantasy, a creation in mind written in his poems. No such "person" truly exists to describe his physical being.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4609 on:** October 08, 2016, 09:46:01 PM »

Now I am wondering how many of these Sonnets that we assumed were written for or about either a young man or a woman that he called beloved, were really written about his muse - which, according to the research there were not only the Greek muses that were popular as guides so to speak for various artists but also, at this time in history one of the Archangels was thought to be a muse for writers therefore, the Sonnets could have been either for a woman muse or a male muse - sure not going back to review all the Sonnets we haver read so far but it is now a question in my mind.

From today's Sonnet I like the line "And gives thy pen both skill and argument" - so matter of fact and yet, said so prettily - and the last line reminds me of something I would say aloud with a stirring voice reading to children - maybe a pirate story or a mystery as the hero's are running in the night or hiding in a cave "So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife."

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4610 on:** October 09, 2016, 12:12:52 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CI

O truant Muse, what shall be thy amends,
For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy'd?
Both truth and beauty on my love depends;
So dost thou too, and therein dignify'd.
Make answer, Muse: wilt thou not haply say,
'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fix'd;
Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to lay;
But best is best, if never intermix'd?'
Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?
Excuse not silence so; for't lies in thee
To make him much outlive a gilded tomb,
And to be prais'd of ages yet to be.
Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how
To make him seem long hence as he shows now.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSvUoYxNB3k

bellamarie · « **Reply #4611 on:** October 09, 2016, 09:26:49 AM »

Barb,

Quote

therefore, the Sonnets could have been either for a woman muse or a male muse

"People have spilled an enormous quantity of ink trying to identify this figure.”
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jan/31/shakespeare-sonnets-mr-wh-dedication-mystery

This will forever remain unsolved, so we will just have to enjoy the sonnets and speculate as others have throughout the centuries.

Sonnets 100 and 101

Shakespeare is calling upon his muse to come inspire him to write about the beauty of his beloved. Is Shakespeare losing his creative thoughts here?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4612 on:** October 09, 2016, 12:05:57 PM »

Nice link Bellamarie - the same argument with a few more names that we have heard isn't it - now there is no speculation in the article that the Sonnets could be writing to and about a muse that is an ethereal manifestation of a force that at the time was projected by the Greeks or the Church which I think I like that idea

ah so - a mystery and yes, you are just so on target suggesting they simply be poems to enjoy and see how they relate to our individual lives because as you point out the mystery will never be solved unless someone finds some letter from Shakespeare explaining himself.

It does sound like Shakespeare was having writer's block and expressed his despair in these Sonnets - somewhere I read that Sonnet 100 was written 6 months after Sonnet 99.

With absolutely none of the usual Sunday night lineup on TV tonight and I have no interest in the debate I think I will use tonight to watch one of the movie version of one of Shakespeare's plays - found 14 of them on Amazon Video, most are free with my Prime membership - hmm just thought - I think I will take down my huge tome of all the plays and follow along with whatever play I choose.

JoanK · « **Reply #4613 on:** October 09, 2016, 06:07:21 PM »

BARB: that sounds great. Let us know which play you watched, and how it went.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4614 on:** October 10, 2016, 02:09:07 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CII

Philomel - the classical name for the nightingale,
which sings in early summer.

My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming;
I love not less, though less the show appear;
That love is merchandized whose rich esteeming
The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere.
Our love was new, and then but in the spring
When I was wont to greet it with my lays;
As Philomel in summer's front doth sing,
And stops her pipe in growth of riper days:
Not that the summer is less pleasant now
Than when her mournful hymns did hush the night,
But that wild music burthens every bough
And sweets grown common lose their dear delight.
Therefore like her, I sometime hold my tongue,
Because I would not dull you with my song.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 102
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBmLHyaemZs

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4615 on:** October 10, 2016, 02:25:05 AM »

Well Joan I did not get to see and read the entire play - had a wonderful happening - a cousin I lost track of and had not heard from in 10 years... her daughter saw my name on facebook and followed through - once I read her message which included the unpublished phone number for my cousin I was on the phone and we talked for over an hour - I was so delighted and ended up falling asleep in my reading chair - Which may have worked because after reviewing today's Sonnet and learning about the meaning of Philomel and the Greek myth that the name comes from I was curious is Shakespeare had used Philomel in any of his plays - and yes, in Midsummer Nights Dream

Looking that up found this terrific site that further explains Philomel and how it gives this play, considered a comedy another meaning - the silencing of women is wrapped up in the Greek Myth that Shakespeare uses as part of the play.

http://www.articlemyriad.com/significance-philomel-midsummer-nights-dream/

And so I have the movie of the play, Midsummer Nights Dream started and will probably get into it during the day or in the evening - want to say tomorrow but it is after midnight so it is today. I am excited now that I know to look for the reference to Philomel and to go deeper into the play to understand more of what it is about.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4616 on:** October 10, 2016, 09:41:17 PM »

Reading the play while watching it is slow going - amazing how much I am seeing aspects of the Sonnets about beauty and flowers and time are in this play -

There are several versions of the play made into a movie and several are either adaptations or have been brought into successive centuries - there is one free version with Helen Mirren as the young girl Hermia that was I thought stilted, so much so it was annoying - another that did cost 1.99 fpr 7 days rental is in period costume and Helen Mirren is again in the play however, this time she plays Titania, the queen of the fairies. A few spots the actors speak so quickly and quietly I would not know what they were saying if I was not reading along.

The biggest surprise is to see how these Sonnets are similar in nature to the play - so that this line has in my mind a double meaning "The owner's tongue doth publish everywhere." The line relates to the Sonnet as singing or broadcasting the poets love but it also is poignantly saying Shakespeare's thoughts and words are included in at least Midsummer Night's Dream and maybe other plays.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4617 on:** October 11, 2016, 12:02:03 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CIII

Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forth,
That having such a scope to show her pride,
The argument all bare is of more worth
Than when it hath my added praise beside!
O, blame me not, if I no more can write!
Look in your glass, and there appears a face
That over-goes my blunt invention quite,
Dulling my lines and doing me disgrace.
Were it not sinful then, striving to mend,
To mar the subject that before was well?
For to no other pass my verses tend
Than of your graces and your gifts to tell;
And more, much more, than in my verse can sit,
Your own glass shows you when you look in it.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 103
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQxAMQGt3-A

bellamarie · « **Reply #4618 on:** October 11, 2016, 03:58:12 PM »

Barb,

Quote

It does sound like Shakespeare was having writer's block and expressed his despair in these Sonnets - somewhere I read that Sonnet 100 was written 6 months after Sonnet 99.

Aha! This is interesting to know. So did you watch a movie, if so which one? I watched the debate. It was like reality TV! lololol

I stopped in for lunch at Barnes & Noble today and had the "Complete Works of William Shakespeare" book glancing through it. There is only one copy left that I could see but still didn't purchase it. Anyway, it had a glossary in the back and I was curious and looked the word, muse up and it said, "wonder". Not sure that really helped me any. So, is the muse he is writing in these sonnets as I suggested, a figment of his imagination? Who knows, one more mystery we will never solve I am sure.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4619 on:** October 11, 2016, 05:18:45 PM »

Sonnet 102

I see him saying that he feels he needs to keep their love private and not to broadcast it all over the place, because in doing so it becomes about bragging and diminishes their love. Like everything else that becomes commercialized, it just becomes a commodity rather than something special. So if he does not continue writing or speaking of their love don't be concerned, it is still there.

Is this sort of like, absence makes the heart grow fonder?

As Philomel in summer’s front doth sing,

Philomel is the nightingale he speaks of. Comparing all his writing in the beginning like the first nightengale of the season singing, and as the love/season goes on there is less need to write/sing.

Sonnet 103

Shakespeare seems to think he will not do justice to write about this person, since the beauty is plain to see if just by looking into a mirror. He speaks of the fact that all he is writing about are (her) graces and gifts. Here he admits he has not touched on any physical descriptions, as we mentioned earlier.

That having such a scope to show her pride

Interesting how he did use the pronoun "her" in this particular sonnet.

Does it seem as if Shakespeare sees himself drawing to an end of these sonnets? Has he become tired of them, bored with his own writings? Were the sonnets the last known works of Shakespeare? I know I could Google this but I am off to a birthday dinner and don't want to be late, but I do want to get this posted.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4620 on:** October 11, 2016, 10:57:21 PM »

Bellamarie if the Sonnets were least known - do not know - the plays brought in money - the plays were performed in front of the King and then the Queen - they had to be performed in order to get the royal endorsement required to make it legal to perform the play in public. Also, he received compensation from the crown where as the Sonnets were private and not widely read while he was alive - however, they were included in the earliest gathering of his writing. Any book containing all the plays, annotated or not, includes the Sonnets.

Having seen the topic of much of these recent sonnets in the play I am reading and watching, The Midsummer Night's Dream - he was either in the same place when he was writing the sonnets or maybe, they were where he worked out some thoughts that were incorporated into the play - we really do not know - we read some weeks ago that it was a challenge to read these sonnets in the order 1 to 154 but again, I can see another approach he may be working out having seen some of the thoughts and words from this sonnet in the play.

Very much one of the main female characters is silenced by her father and until Shakespeare had the fairies as part of the play she would have had to marry a man she did not love or go to the nunnery, as the Greek myth about Philomel whose tongue is cut out after she is raped by her sister's husband we see Shakespeare showing the beautiful young Hermia silenced by both the duke, who represents power and order and Hermia’s father who demands obedience. Hermia's beauty is described similar to how Shakespeare describes beauty in his sonnets.

Bellamarie do you own a Kindle - if so, Amazon has several very good books free for a kindle that include all of Shakespeare's writings - plays, sonnets, other poems and a few plays not included in that first folio of his work -

And yes, the her hmm at times I think he is referring to the muse as a her and than other times I think he is writing about and to a lady friend. I also have been reading how many of these words have a distinct meaning that is different than the meaning we associate with the word today. Which makes you wonder if the only way to get anything out of these poems is to dwell deeper into seventeenth century customs, lexicon, history, etc. But then that goes against the grain of poetry which is like any of the arts - we bring ourselves with us when we read and so what the poem means to us today should not be dependent on our understanding of words as they were expressing thoughts in the seventeenth century. Ah so...

Today's sonnet reminds me of someone saying 'the devil made me do it' as if he only writes what the muse dictates by some invisible power and on his own he is incapable of writing. Is writing really a function of life - I guess so - many say our life, the good as well as the obstacles are as a result of our God - but then we have the entire 2000 year argument to resurrect between free will and God's will or predestination. Around and around we go.

I've looked in the mirror many times and my question ends up if I have what it takes to get myself in a better place after yet again another unexpected usually painful happening. I have learned at least that much - it is only painful because I had a picture or idea of what 'should' happen where as if I lived in the minute without expectations there would be no pain regardless of what happens. Well onward - lots of interior questions reading these sonnets.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4621 on:** October 12, 2016, 01:13:16 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CIV

To me, fair friend, you never can be old,
For as you were, when first your eye I ey'd,
Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold
Have from the forests shook three summers' pride,
Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd
In process of the seasons have I seen,
Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burn'd,
Since first I saw you fresh, which yet are green.
Ah! yet doth beauty, like a dial-hand,
Steal from his figure and no pace perceiv'd;
So your sweet hue, which methinks still doth stand,
Hath motion and mine eye may be deceiv'd:
For fear of which, hear this, thou age unbred;
Ere you were born, was beauty's summer dead.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 104
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebVI-vHCado

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4622 on:** October 12, 2016, 10:41:03 PM »

Had to read it a couple of times and then listened to it - when I listened I hear he is talking about a child - a 3 year old beautiful child - how lovely - just lovely - a love poem to a child - could be to either his son or daughters - the experts believe he is talking about his young male lover but reading and hearing it for me - Ere you were born, was beauty's summer dead is how I felt about my babies as toddlers.

Been without a computer most of the day - something got in and had to clean it out and then clean it out again - on and on - son-in-law again to the rescue - he is able long distance to get into my computer and make repairs - nice. And thank goodness did not have to wait three winters or three Aprils.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4623 on:** October 13, 2016, 12:40:17 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CV

Let not my love be called idolatry,
Nor my beloved as an idol show,
Since all alike my songs and praises be
To one, of one, still such, and ever so.
Kind is my love to-day, to-morrow kind,
Still constant in a wondrous excellence;
Therefore my verse to constancy confin'd,
One thing expressing, leaves out difference.
Fair, kind, and true, is all my argument,
Fair, kind, and true, varying to other words;
And in this change is my invention spent,
Three themes in one, which wondrous scope affords.
Fair, kind, and true, have often liv'd alone,
Which three, till now, never kept seat in one.

Shakespeare Sonnet 105
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sSSuNZ1In0

bellamarie · « **Reply #4624 on:** October 13, 2016, 12:47:26 PM »

Barb, I don't have a Kindle but I do have a Nook and two ipads. I will check out and see if I can find any free Shakespeare books. I do prefer hardcover books for special authors such as Shakespeare.

Sorry I have been lagging behind, my best friend just lost her daughter to diabetes and she is only 44 yrs. old. It's been a very emotional week for me and the next few days will not be any easier with the viewing and funeral.

Sonnet 104

For as you were, when first your eye I ey'd,

I see Shakespeare remembering back to when he first met this person. He is stating the person has not changed a bit in his beauty over the past three years he has known him. He does mention time does not stand still and beauty will fade, and his eyes may be deceiving him in thinking this person has not changed over time. This sonnet reminds me of the saying:

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

bellamarie · « **Reply #4625 on:** October 13, 2016, 12:55:53 PM »

Sonnet 105

Let not my love be called idolatry,
Nor my beloved as an idol show,

Strange how Shakespeare uses the word, "idolatry" when in fact it almost has seemed throughout all these sonnets he is in fact idolizing or obsessing over this person.

Three themes in one, which wondrous scope affords.
Fair, kind, and true, have often liv'd alone,
Which three, till now, never kept seat in one.

Now he is speaking in part to the character of the person using these three words, fair, kind and true. I find this a contradiction to his words prior since he has voiced the betrayal. Seems our Shakespeare can't quite make up his mind, he wallowed in self pity, depression, hurt and almost suicidal thoughts because of this person betraying him, yet now he says, kind and true? Sorry, I can't buy into this.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4626 on:** October 13, 2016, 03:25:30 PM »

ohh sorry Bellamarie - loosing a friend at this young age and with the many medical advances is hard - Did she attend Mass at the same church you attend? I guess I am thinking how there is some solace hearing a priest during the rituals and mass for those who pass on.

Yes, all beauty I think lies in in the eye of the beholder - that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that we are the beholders, empowering us to find beauty in places where others have not dared to look.

Sorta off the subject and yet, not... with sonnet 105 we have 49 Sonnets or 49 days till the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Holidays. - I kept thinking I was going to accomplish something and click off the days using the Sonnet a Day as my bench mark - but as Robert Burns wrote, The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley. Now I really must count off the next 49 days for something meaningful other than brushing up against words that are over 400 years since written and available to us.

He does repeat three times - Fair, kind, and true which reminds me of the earlier Sonnet using the three to describe time - three winters, three Aprils etc... So many three's - from the Trinity to three wishes - from the trefoil to the three charities. He seems to be saying that fairness or beauty is kind and true also, the kindness of fairness is to see only that which is true as well as, that truth is both kind and fair or beautiful. Three entwined - one leads to another as if three are words creating a circle. Nice...

Interesting there are 150 psalms in The Book of Common Prayer and the Sonnets number 150 plus 4 however, in the old texts of The Book of Common Prayer I read that the number 150 was not used and the last psalm skipped to 151 so it would be 151 plus 3.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4627 on:** October 13, 2016, 04:38:36 PM »

Barb, Thank you and yes, they are members of my church. The parents have been our best friends for years and he is the Deacon while she taught at Regina Coeli the years I taught and then she went on to teach high school. They both now lead our Tuesday morning Bible study. My husband and I have also shared being facilitators in Pre Cana many years with them as well. Their daughter Chris, who died has lived in Dayton Ohio since 1997, but of course growing up in Toledo and being a member of Regina all her childhood means this family will be receiving an abundance of love and support to help them through this very trying time.

Barb,

Quote

Now I really must count off the next 49 days for something meaningful other than brushing up against words that are over 400 years since written and available to us.

Does this mean we will be ending the sonnets early? I have no issue with it, if that is the case. He does repeat himself over and over again.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4628 on:** October 13, 2016, 05:34:21 PM »

No Bellamarie I don't plan on cutting short this tribute to the 400 year anniversary of Shakespeare's death - I will upload them daily as I've been doing so folks can read them - I will comment as they hit my senses - Hope others join me - like to see through a project started especially a tribute.

However, there are only 49 more sonnets and my personal desire is to use the 49 days to not only brush up against the private life and words of Shakespeare that are the Sonnets but I want to accomplish something in addition that after 49 days I will see a difference - not sure what yet but so far I have 3 ideas in contention - establish a daily walk habit - knit for an hour each day - spend an hour a day sorting all the years of photos and write what was going on when the photo was taken. In fact I may bite the bullet and do all three since I cannot choose - but 49 days in a row will make a dent in whatever I do...

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4629 on:** October 14, 2016, 12:59:48 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CVI

When in the chronicle of wasted time
I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme
In praise of ladies dead, and lovely knights,
Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best,
Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,
I see their antique pen would have express'd
Even such a beauty as you master now.
So all their praises are but prophecies
Of this our time, all you prefiguring;
And, for they look'd but with divining eyes,
They had not skill enough your worth to sing:
For we, which now behold these present days,
Had eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

William Shakespeare Sonnet 106
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDWBrn4a0SQ

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4630 on:** October 14, 2016, 12:39:47 PM »

Interesting - with that logic the reason we still have writers penning their descriptions of beauty is that the past writers did not do justice to the beauty that is before the author that the author is attempting to describe in verse or in music or for that matter in any of the arts.

A braggadocio comment to pamper the current beauty but does not say much for the author's desire to express themselves on an uplifting topic like beauty. Two sides of the coin I guess...

bellamarie · « **Reply #4631 on:** October 14, 2016, 03:28:28 PM »

Barb,

Quote

I have 3 ideas in contention - establish a daily walk habit - knit for an hour each day - spend an hour a day sorting all the years of photos and write what was going on when the photo was taken. In fact I may bite the bullet and do all three since I cannot choose - but 49 days in a row will make a dent in whatever I do...

Good for you!!! I think you should definitely attempt all three, just don't worry if daily you skip one or the other. I began walking at the beginning of summer with my neighbor and when her classes began in August, I resumed with my hubby and Shih Tzu Sammy. I started knitting a scarf for my granddaughter last year and never finished it for her Christmas gift, as for the photos I have stacks and stacks of digital cds labeled and actually made a really neat "Christmas book" last year online with special pics of me and the family all pertaining to the holiday and our faith. It came in the mail a hardcover book and the family was amazed to see it in print! I will cherish it forever and am wanting to make another one that will cover the seasons from all the pics I have taken this past year. I am obsessed with taking pictures!! I am the only one in the family who takes pictures so my kids and grandkids love seeing when I post on my Facebook for them to see them. I have made them dvds set to their favorite music for graduation gifts. I love watching their faces as they view them.

I will check in daily with the Shakespeare Sonnets, and comment if something stirs in me. So far it's been so repetitious, I feel I am just as repetitious as the sonnets.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4632 on:** October 14, 2016, 05:06:19 PM »

Oh you have no idea Bellamarie how glad I was to read just don't worry if daily you skip one or the other. I do so easily give up if I miss anything and here I was doubting myself again because I woke up during the night with an awful tummy - whatever I ate - and I've had chills and cannot get out of bed but all because of this upset tummy.

My only thought is I usually keep fresh grapes in the frig as snacking food and day earlier this week I found a hair in my mouth that I pulled out of the grape I was eating. What I pulled out was short and black - not mine -

I've had this happen before and the grocer always says it is mine - no proof so I knew there was no sense complaining and I washed the grapes again - now I am wondering about the hair and what other contamination because I have had greens that were filled with all kinds of different hairs and learned in the early years of the drought crop farmers flooded the fields when the greens are first planted not using pure water so that the greens grow up through whatever was left from the flooding of the field.

Grapes on a vine are seldom affected directly by dirty water so who knows - but I'm throwing out the remainder of the grapes - Hate it - it is getting so the only fresh fruit to eat is what is grown and sold locally at the farmer's markets. Vegetables that require cooking is different.

Well all to say of course I have NOT taken my walk - now after reading your remark I will take myself into the bathroom and talk to myself in the mirror and remind myself even if I said 'walk first thing' I can still walk after dark if need be and the more upset I get with myself the longer it will take my tummy to stop hurting.

I can still start my knitting - I've picked up some grey and red wool to make thick socks to wear in the house that I hope go up quick enough to make a pair for each of the boys - if it takes all week to make just one sock I have as of today exactly 10 weeks.

Hadn't thought of a book of photos but that is an idea - for now I need to clear off the front room dining table and get the boxes of photos set out.

And that is it - even if I only walk past my neighbor's house in the dark - it is carrying through - yep, Shakespeare is going to have some company and if he all upset as he sounds in this poem because others in the past lack tongues to praise I am not going to join them by not having the skill enough your worth to sing Thanks to you Bellamarie I will sing my worth and not be among the chronicle of wasted time.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4633 on:** October 15, 2016, 01:23:48 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet CVII

Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul
Of the wide world, dreaming on things to come,
Can yet the lease of my true love control,
Suppos'd as forfeit to a confin'd doom.
The mortal moon hath her eclipse endur'd,
And the sad augurs mock their own presage;
Incertainties now crown themselves assur'd,
And peace proclaims olives of endless age.
Now with the drops of this most balmy time
My love looks fresh, and Death to me subscribes,
Since, spite of him, I'll live in this poor rhyme,
While he insults o'er dull and speechless tribes:
And thou in this shalt find thy monument,
When tyrants' crests and tombs of brass are spent.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 107
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HruhH8Qcz8w

bellamarie · « **Reply #4634 on:** October 15, 2016, 08:47:53 AM »

Sonnet 106

So all the writers before his time were prophesying the beauty of Shakespeare's lover to come? Oh dear, this is just too much for me to even comment any further on.

Sonnet 107
Shakespeare is saying he will live on in his sonnets....... and that he did.

Barb, I am so sorry you are not feeling well. I hope it passes quickly. I'm glad I could be of some encouragement in your newly quests. We can't hold ourselves to the fire if we do not succeed to accomplish all our hopes in one day. Allow yourself to feel good to do one of the the three if a day happens to come with something that will prevent you from doing all three of your goals. All or nothing is a sure way to fail. Weather alone will prevent your from you walk outside, but a walk around inside your house will still be you walking.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4635 on:** October 15, 2016, 10:06:17 PM »

Given today's political climate this is a great line - While he insults o'er dull and speechless tribes Bottom line it is all superficial in comparison to living our life sharing and increasing the gifts bestowed upon us at birth. I always think on the parable of the talents - as a kid this was one of the few Bible stories we heard with the large chart in front of the classroom that had a page with a photo for each of about 12 stories.

A man going on a journey, calls his servants and entrusted to them his property.

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

I remember when the parable was told to us we were also told increasing out talents in life we would be accountable to god upon our death. True or not it was something that became important to me - and that is what I see in this Sonnet - the poet suggesting he had increased his talents so that they shalt find thy monument,
When tyrants' crests and tombs of brass are spent.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4636 on:** October 16, 2016, 03:02:27 AM »

October - Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall.

October
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obt15rKYunU

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4637 on:** October 16, 2016, 04:13:55 AM »

Humbert Wolfe

Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4638 on:** October 16, 2016, 04:32:10 AM »

Kernels of juice
blue, mom makes it do
magic heat to vanilla ice cream
purple dream.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4639 on:** October 16, 2016, 04:32:24 AM »

“But the owls themselves are not hard to find, silent and on the wing,
with their ear tufts flat against their heads as they fly and their huge
wings alternately gliding and flapping as they maneuver through the
trees. Athena’s owl of wisdom and Merlin’s companion, Archimedes,
were screech owls surely, not this bird with the glassy gaze, restless
on the bough, nothing but blood on its mind.”
― Mary Oliver, Owls and Other Fantasies: Poems and Essays

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