Author Topic: Poetry Page (Read 837189 times)

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4080 on:** July 19, 2016, 07:17:32 PM »

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

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4081 on:** July 19, 2016, 11:15:15 PM »

Leah the laugh of the day - I too had to laugh aloud with your sidesaddle quip.

You too Bellamarie - if our kids only knew... oh dear...

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4082 on:** July 19, 2016, 11:16:02 PM »

Shakespeare Sonnet XX

A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted
Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion;
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted
With shifting change, as is false women's fashion;
An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling,
Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
A man in hue, all hues in his controlling,
Much steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
And for a woman wert thou first created;
Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting,
And by addition me of thee defeated,
By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.
But since she prick'd thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tUgF0RvO30

bellamarie · « **Reply #4083 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:21:28 AM »

Not that it matters to me, but this sonnet gives me pause and has me wondering if Shakespeare was bisexual. Of course I had to go searching for an answer and it appears it's been a question scholars have asked over the centuries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_of_William_Shakespeare

Shakespeare's sonnets are cited as evidence of his bisexuality. The poems were initially published, perhaps without his approval, in 1609.[19] One hundred and twenty-six of them appear to be love poems addressed to a young man known as the 'Fair Lord' or 'Fair Youth'; this is often assumed to be the same person as the 'Mr W.H.' to whom the sonnets are dedicated.[20] The identity of this figure (if he is indeed based on a real person) is unclear; the most popular candidates are Shakespeare's patrons, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton and William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, both of whom were considered handsome in their youth.[21]

From every link I visited it concurs these sonnets were written for a young man.

But since she prick'd thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.

He seems to be conceding that this young man is meant for women's pleasure, but he will remain seeing him as his love.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4084 on:** July 20, 2016, 02:01:15 AM »

ahh - Bellamarie having researched to find a suitable photo I learned much about men's fashion in the sixteenth and early seventeenth century - seems that a fashionably dressed man was called 'Beautiful' and wore clothes that were not sex specific - one article I read said, sex specific clothes were not set in stone till the nineteenth century. Early nineteenth century, fashionable men still wore embroidered flowered coats and embroidered silk vests, silk stockings with decorative garters, feminine ruffles and lace similar to women. In the Sixteenth century fashionable young man dressed with a feminine flair and his stance, the way he used his body was gentle and graceful. Male children were dressed as girls till they approached their teens.

The knight culture had been waning and now a man of breeding showed his feminine side. With the increased wealth and trade from newly discovered lands during the sixteenth century, gold and colorful silk thread was used to decorate cloth, imported Venetian sheet panes rather than bottled glass windows allowed more light to embroider and make lace. Successful men wanted the benefits of their new luxury and like many families the younger generation shows off the family wealth and status. During this time in history it showed status when the young men dressed and comported themselves as feminine rather than the strong warrior.

Here is one bit -- "Men wore jewelry off and on, and in the mid-16th century, they often wore a single dangling earring along with their wide, padded breeches that resembled puffy skirts. Whatever femininity this might have indicated was counter-balanced with hyper-masculine pointy beards and codpieces (which were not uncommonly erect, in case you had any lingering doubts of a man’s virility). The pointy beard mirrored the triangular waistline, and punctuated by the essential phallic sword accessory, further drawing the eye to the crotch:"

Poets into the early nineteenth century included in their poetry words like "beautiful young men" that a girl lamented or pined for and women admiring men who were described as seductive, wearing bracelets on their 'naked arms'. Women, often married, wanted to bed the more beautiful young men like these...

And so what Shakespeare is saying is that a beautiful young man in false women's fashion were created for a women's sexual pleasure - "A man in hue, all hues in his controlling," meaning he dresses the peacock as we would call it today but, he is the one who is controlling his colorful dress and what it means and who he is.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4085 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:13:42 AM »

Well, that is interesting Barb, and one way to see it. There are still scholars who have wondered about his sexuality for centuries and I don't think it had to do with fashion. But if it is a possibility, you can read these sonnets with a whole new perspective. I myself kept thinking he was speaking about a woman because they are so intimate, until someone pointed out he used "he" then I realized indeed he is speaking to a young man especially in sonnet 18.

From that particular article I posted I found this interesting:

The poems were initially published, perhaps without his approval, in 1609.

Imagine if these were Shakespeare personal writings, such as journals he wrote not expecting them to ever to be viewed to the public. I have many private journals that I intend to destroy because they were my personal private thoughts struggling and dealing with many different issues in my life throughout the years I was journaling.

Gosh I just knew my curiosity was going to get the better of me and send me on more searches. Since I have never taken the time to know anything at all about Shakespeare until now, I thought what better time than now, since we are reading his daily sonnets. Here are a couple of interesting links, one of his timeline, and one about the 154 sonnets. I personally enjoy knowing a bit more behind the great writer.

http://shakespeare.about.com/od/thesonnets/tp/Sonnet_Summary.htm
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/shakespeareslife/a/Shakespeare_Timeline.htm

1. The Fair Youth Sonnets (Sonnets 1 – 126)
The first 126 of Shakespeare’s sonnets are addressed to the fair youth with whom the poet has a deep and loving friendship. This sequence comprises many of Shakespeare’s most famous poems including ‘Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day?’ (Sonnet 18).

2. The Dark Lady Sonnets (Sonnets 127 – 152)
The Dark Lady Sonnets are the second sequence in Shakespeare's sonnets in which a "dark lady" enters the narrative and instantly becomes the object of the poet's desire.

This helps me when reading these sonnets.

JoanK · « **Reply #4086 on:** July 20, 2016, 05:59:02 PM »

I believe that in Italy at that time, bisexuality (especially toward "youths") was common in the upper classes, and was taken for granted. I don't know if the same was true in England.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4087 on:** July 20, 2016, 06:57:07 PM »

JoanK., I think throughout Europe and other countries it was. Makes me think of Lewis Carroll and how he was in love with young Alice Liddell, and how it was common for the elite to have him paint their youth in nude.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4088 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:20:53 PM »

I think - didn't the Sonnet form originate in Italy - well onwards - this looking into interpretation is tricky - it is so easy for us to slip into using the 'expertise' of Shakespeare scholars to decipher the meaning of these Sonnets and we are back to assuming one expert is on target more than another - for some reason over the last 400 years Shakespeare has attracted more experts than most writer - even those who wrote his Biography do not agree on what are supposed to be facts - My personal take is they are fine until they attempt to interpret the facts of his life and then like all of us, our individual bias creeps in. We all have our favorite Shakespeare Biography but stacked one against the other the differences are many.

The earlier guidance for this discussion I think is our best bet to read these Sonnets for ourselves and not dip into understanding them from the experience and point of view of a Shakespeare expert - re-reading from an earlier post -

"There are a ton of books that analyze and tear into the poem but, we do not have to repeat what authors have deduced in their many books - part of enjoying poetry is hearing its song - seeing the mind pictures a poem creates for us.

It helps to say the poem aloud - like remembering the rustle of Autumn leaves adds a memory moment, a connection with trees that allows us to sink into autumn and so too, reading a poem aloud - if there is a reading of the Sonnet on youtube available then it is added at the bottom of the post.

This is our time to relax and float in words - to catch the ideas that Shakespeare shares - Feel the joy of words that are placed one after another but not strung along as we carry on a conversation, there is an other worldliness about them.

Tell us about your first reaction – After your second read were you moved – Did you catch something you did not catch in the first reading - was there a particular phrase that caught you as you read - Then after your third read, what emotions within yourself did the poem touch. Did Shakespeare pull you in? What did you find appealing about the 14 lines declaring an aspect of love - - - "

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4089 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:43:32 PM »

OK in light of the reminder to enjoy these Sonnets - the last line to me is magical

Had to read it several time to figure it out but once I did - oh oh oh

Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.

That 'thy' in 'thy love's' took me awhile to figure out who the 'thy' belonged to.

I get the sentence saying - my love be yours my love - he is calling the person he is talking to 'thy love' and now my love is yours - added to his or her love as a something of an identity - like a precious stone or just a pile of love that is the mixture of both their love and to use that pile of love as the treasure of this other to whom he is talking.

We are so not used to men talking to each other using the expression love and as Joan points out it is common among Italian men - I've heard it among Frenchmen but they are usually related to each other and so I did not think it unusual -

However, regardless the fact of who is talking in the poem, taking that line as a thought for anyone you care about - in fact, all of use - we do care about each other - and so If I am adding my caring to the group caring and calling y'all loves and then, all that love and caring, mine and everyone's love and caring is put together it really is a treasure.

Hmm, that may be what is the core of those of us who post on Senior Learn and why we are concerned when one or the other of us goes through a difficult time or how we are happy for each other when someone is having a wonderful experience. Yep, I think we together are a treasure of caring and love. I like that...

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4090 on:** July 21, 2016, 02:01:27 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet XXI

So is it not with me as with that Muse,
Stirr'd by a painted beauty to his verse;
Who heaven itself 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 fix'd in heaven's air:
Let them say more than like of hearsay well;
I will not praise, that purpose not to sell.

Sonnet 21 (image of Original 1609 edition of the Sonnet)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8doUpbveQkQ

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4091 on:** July 21, 2016, 02:37:00 AM »

Had so much trouble making sense of this line "And every fair with his fair doth rehearse;" - picking it apart fair is beautiful - fair with his fair - that is comparison - aha rehearse means he celebrates. So this is all about an extravagant comparison.

Then I had to question what is, "huge rondure" - Roundness; rounded form or space. Formerly also as a count noun: a round form, space, or object ( obsolete ). Origin: Early 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Dekker (c1572–1632), playwright and pamphleteer. From round + -ure.

OK so the "huge rondure hems" would be that the heavens hem in the roundness that represents earth - because by medieval times scholars accept the earth is a sphere.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4092 on:** July 21, 2016, 11:53:37 AM »

In Sonnet XXl, it seems he is saying that his true love is as beautiful as any poet's words, and as beautiful as anything of the universe. It sort of reminds me of the saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Which for me, means we see what we see, and not necessarily anyone else sees it our way.

I didn't intend to get us off track, I really did need to learn a bit more about this great poet. It does help me to know if he is speaking to a male or female. For some crazy reason I kept seeing these intimate words being meant for a woman, it does give me personally a better perception in reading these sonnets now.

Leah · « **Reply #4093 on:** July 21, 2016, 12:05:42 PM »

I think you nailed it on the head, Bellamarie! Eye of the beholder, yes!

And he is not praising the likes of his fair one for any other reason than to express his affection- he is not talking them up for the purpose of 'sell'ing or to convince others of their beauty and value to him.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4094 on:** July 21, 2016, 12:53:54 PM »

ooowww Bellamarie yes, I never thought of that phrase and as Leah says, hits the nail on the head.

After reading it again that first line sorta splits the poem in half - he ignores himself - "So is it not with me" and then writes the next seven lines explaining away the Muse and does not pick up on himself till "O' let me, true in love, but truly write," and for the next few lines till the last two line rebuttal he explains himself in complete agreement with the Muse but using other metaphors to do it. Yep, just as you said Bellamarie - its all in the eye of the beholder

I sure do like this line describing the stars at night - "As those gold candles fix'd in heaven's air:" I am going to remember that line when I go out again tonight to look at the sky - did any of you go out last night and see the moon? Oh the moon was huge - full like a pale golden disk slowly came up from the eastern horizon - it was a night I would have liked staying up and watching the entire process as it rose and traveled across the sky - but things to do today so I had to get to bed. The moon put on such a show I never even looked for a star but tonight I need to look for some of those

gold candles

PatH · « **Reply #4095 on:** July 21, 2016, 04:04:41 PM »

I didn't have time to talk yesterday, but I had stuff to say about sonnet 20, so I'll say it today, and anyone who's tired of #20 can just not read it.

It's a lovely poem, and it's also somewhat disconcerting because of the fuzzy gender identity. He's talking to a man, but loves the man's feminine qualities. Nature first made him a woman, then thought him so lovable that she (nature) equipped him as a man. Notice that the man is regarded as superior to a woman, having a woman's heart, but constant, not false as woman's is; having a woman's eyes, but brighter and not false in expression. This is meant as a compliment, you're better than any other human being, but I bet Shakespeare genuinely thought men were superior.

The poet talks as though their love can't have a physical side, but will still be there. "By addition" nature has defeated me of thee.

But since she pricked thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love, and thy love's use their treasure.

Since nature gave the beloved man what women need for pleasure, although he can still love the poet (mine be thy love) thy love's use (the physical side) belongs to women (their treasure).

JoanK · « **Reply #4096 on:** July 21, 2016, 06:12:10 PM »

Thanks for that, PAT. I really needed help with tht one.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4097 on:** July 21, 2016, 06:40:58 PM »

Good show Pat - trying to be clear using 400 year old English does not help either - Onward ->

Today's link to the sonnet spoken shows a page from the original English - interesting how words have developed - glad they read it aloud because just looking at the printed page I would never have understood and here we have the Sonnet written using today's spelling and it still can be a challenge - but then the words are like music aren't they - what a treat we would miss not reading these - I am so proud of us - we have already read almost an eighth of these wonderful expressions of Shakespeare's thoughts on love, passing time, desire and beauty.

So far looking for beauty and love to be expressed romantically I am reading more how flowers are used as a description and metaphor for beauty - isn't it you Bellamarie that has the flower garden - I have read of herb gardens using all the herbs mentioned in the plays of Shakespeare - need to look more closely at flowers as the way beauty was described in the 16th and 17th century.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4098 on:** July 22, 2016, 01:22:33 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet XXII

My glass shall not persuade me I am old,
So long as youth and thou are of one date;
But when in thee time's furrows I behold,
Then look I death my days should expiate.
For all that beauty that doth cover thee
Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,
Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me:
How can I then be elder than thou art?
O, therefore, love, be of thyself so wary
As I, not for myself, but for thee will;
Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary
As tender nurse her babe from faring ill.
Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain;
Thou gavest me thine, not to give back again.

William Shakespeare Sonnet 22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_Jx13_pdM4

bellamarie · « **Reply #4099 on:** July 22, 2016, 09:29:14 AM »

Barb, Yes, I have been working tirelessly on my flower gardens since I retired a year ago April. It is a work in progress, I add new perennials almost daily since they are going on sale now. My goal is to have all perennials so I will only have to buy a few annuals each year. I plant so they will begin blooming in early Spring and continue all through the Summer and Fall. My sweet granddaughter five year old Zoey is a big helper, along with my hubby. Here is a short video I made of my yard, as you will see I am attracting many of mother nature's creatures.... Butterflies, bunnies, birds, etc. Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/marie.patterfritzreinhart/videos/10210298437040699/

bellamarie · « **Reply #4100 on:** July 22, 2016, 09:54:36 AM »

Sonnet XXll

I especially like and can identify with these particular lines:

Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me:
How can I then be elder than thou art?

I think of my grandchildren, especially the younger ones, and see myself not of my age, but much younger when being with them. I don't like to think of them growing up, because for some reason that makes me see myself growing old. As in the picture you added for this sonnet, I do feel like looking at my young grandchildren, is like looking into a mirror showing me my youth, and yet mortality.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4101 on:** July 22, 2016, 12:34:07 PM »

As Bellamarie when I hit the url - which i have several times with a significant time lapse between tries - I get this message - Sorry, this content isn't available right now

bellamarie · « **Reply #4102 on:** July 22, 2016, 08:40:03 PM »

Hmmm.... I just clicked the link and it was fine. Not sure what the problem could be.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4103 on:** July 22, 2016, 10:01:40 PM »

Not sure either Bellamarie - just tried again - I've copied and pasted here the entire box which says...

Sorry, this content isn't available right now
The link you followed may have expired, or the page may only be visible to an audience you're not in.
Go back to the previous page · Go to News Feed · Visit our Help Center

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4104 on:** July 22, 2016, 10:21:04 PM »

As to today's Sonnet - did little for me - same old same old - where you enjoy seeing aspects of yourself in your grands - it just never occurred to me to look - I do see similarities but then I am such the individualist believing each has their particular individual gifts to add to the universe I am more excited when I see them thinking and acting differently than I would imagine as a response to life - but yes, I must say several of the grandboys look like me or my mother or my father and one even walks as my father did who was dead over 20 years before he was born - they all have some interest that is similar to mine but then they seem to also have interests and ways similar to their other parent's family.

The consistency I notice they all have the spunk that it would assign to my great grandparents who sailed to America before steam ships and before the Civil War. They all came alone with no other family. Knowing that my great Grandmother lied about her age when she arrived at Castle Gardens alone - she was only 16 that later census showed but, upon arrival she said she was 18 which meant those waiting on the docks to get workers would offer her an adult job rather than snatch her for child labor which was the common practice for kids on their own.

Also, she made friends with two other girls from Bavaria from different towns and only after research found why that was an important move - the ships were not yet segregated by gender - there were 3 to a hammock and so this kept her from having to share a hammock with a guy - lots of stories of rape aboard these sailing vessels and that was why the change to separating by gender came about a full 10 years after her arrival.

Those kind of smarts is what I see in my grandboys - not the smarts learned with formal education but the kind of smarts that allow you to see and take advantage of opportunity. All that to say I do see family traits continuing in these boys where I was not looking because I was too buys looking for how they were unique. Ah so - Shakespeare has taught me to be perceptive in another way.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4105 on:** July 23, 2016, 03:27:27 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet XXIII

As an unperfect actor on the stage,
Who with his fear is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart;
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love's rite,
And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
O'ercharg'd with burden of mine own love's might.
O let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
Who plead for love and look for recompense
More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.
O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLI276Qm5X8

bellamarie · « **Reply #4106 on:** July 23, 2016, 10:12:20 AM »

Barb, I think I figured it out.... when I posted it on my Facebook page I accidentally had it locked to where only I could see it. I changed the viewing to "Public" Give it another try and see if you can view it now. Thanks for letting me know it was not coming up.

I like to think we are all one of a kind also Barb, but I have spent so many days since each of my six grandkids were born daycaring them five days a week, and then family functions on the weekends that I can't help but see their similarities to myself, my hubby, their parents and other sides of the families. But yes, they each have that special uniqueness as well. As my youngest Zoey who is five years old will be going off to Kindergarten this August, grows each day and I measure her to me, as I have and still do measure my grandkids to my 5'2 height, and see how they have grown to my belly button, to my heart, to my shoulders, to my nose, to my eyes, to the top of my head and then taller than me, my heart skips a beat knowing our days together for day care are limited. The teens find other things to do rather than spend their summer days here, and oh how this shows me time is flying by......

Leah · « **Reply #4107 on:** July 23, 2016, 11:53:17 AM »

I enjoy examples of synesthesia like this one in the last line: "To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit." I remember from somewhere that Cupid is sometimes portrayed as blind or perhaps blindfolded - which brings "love is blind" to mind.
Using one sense to describe another sense. Like "yellow cocktail music" (Great Gatsby) or "taste the rainbow."

bellamarie · « **Reply #4108 on:** July 23, 2016, 03:48:37 PM »

Shakespeare seems to be relying more on his words written, to express his feelings, rather than words spoken. He seems to think he is not able to express all that he feels, so he wants his lover to read his words. For him being such a great poet, he seems to not be confident in speaking his feelings aloud.

O let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4109 on:** July 23, 2016, 05:41:22 PM »

OH Wow Bellamarie the video works - wonderful garden - the azalia bush really puts on a show and all the daisies - they appear as if a hedge along that picket fence - I assume that is your husband and one of your grands helping in the garden - do you dry your hydrangeas? I love my white dryed hydrangeas that I picked years ago while visiting my daughter in the Summer - we do not have them here - too hot. Folks next door had a Rose of Sharon but the drought got it. What is the flower that has large stripes of pink and white in a circle on each of many flowerets?

"To hear with eyes..." Ah yes, to "taste the rainbow" We do that don't we Leah when we are reading - I think that is how I remember looking at a baby before they can talk - you sorta hear them tell you what they need - never did it with an adult though. hmm I wonder - come to think of it when a family member or good friend is upset you can tell and where you cannot actually know for sure what they are thinking you sorta get a gist of it.

What about you Leah do you have the ability to hear or taste what you see? Including that approach in art sure gives it a spark doesn't it.

I think the one I remember and sure have experienced is to taste fear - and smell danger, with no evidence that suggests that danger is nearby but boy can I tell - I used to ignore it but not anymore since my smell ended up proving me right - my Mom used to be able to feel when a family member was dying - as if someone was playing the scales up her vertebra - never thought though to say it aloud or write it as an acceptable thought - just thought my Mom was odd and so was I - ah so...

- And cupid being blindfolded is so perfect isn't it after reading some of Ovid we really understood how the ancients thought of cupid and the unlikely pairing cupid darted.

I wonder Bellamarie if Shakespeare is concerned for the progeny of his poems and plays but yes, he does want those he loves to read of his feelings - that is a gift isn't it - I'm not good at putting my feelings into words much less beautiful metaphors - well there is no sense feeling 'less than', after all we are talking Shakespeare here.

PatH · « **Reply #4110 on:** July 23, 2016, 07:05:11 PM »

Bellamarie, your link worked for me now--I love it. I see bunnies around here too, mostly when I bring in the paper in the morning, unafraid, staring at me, with the early morning sunlight shining pinkly through their erect ears. They know perfectly well I'm not going to try to eat them. No more monarch butterflies though. I particularly like the little Mary looking down at those small yellow flowers.

PatH · « **Reply #4111 on:** July 23, 2016, 07:50:54 PM »

Yesterday's and today's poems are kind of more the standard love sonnet, and very nice indeed. Yesterday, the notion of switching hearts with the beloved. Take care of yourself, as I have to take care of myself, because we are each guarding the heart of the loved other. And don't expect me to give your heart back, even if you hurt mine.

Today he's saying that love and nervousness make him tongue-tied, and his beloved must understand, reading the message in his looks instead. (Never mind how improbable it is that Shakespeare is at a loss for words.)

The final two lines are gorgeous:

O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

bellamarie · « **Reply #4112 on:** July 24, 2016, 12:21:32 AM »

I am so glad you all are now able to see the video. Barb the pink and white flowers are called peppermint phlox. I tried drying hydrangeas and I must have done something wrong because it did not work. Care to share how you did it? PatH., I am amazed at how the wildlife are becoming more and more friendly with humans. I wonder why that is? The birds will come sit with us, the butterflies don't fly away when I am taking their pics, squirrels don't run away, and the bunnies come right up to our patio, not to mention the cardinal just sat there letting me take it's pic. I have friends who live in the city and deer come up their patio doors. Yesterday I was laying out by my pool and this beautiful butterfly came near and stayed for over 20 minutes. Never flew away while I clicked it's pic here he is:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210310332698083&set=ms.c.eJxVy0EOACEMQtEbTYBWae9~%3BMXUxiSasXviEiDhzto34~_EtojkLpkd7yfCIKzlu0K19Vki71WHGJFRg~-.bps.a.10210310317097693.1073742072.1334503729&type=3&theater

bellamarie · « **Reply #4113 on:** July 24, 2016, 12:30:51 AM »

No, I can not imagine Shakespeare being at a loss for words, or being tongue- tied, although I can imagine someone in love having feelings so great they feel it is not possible to express it in words that will not do them justice, so instead he writes them down. Some people are just not good at expressing words openly. I did not grow up in a home where love was expressed openly. I had never been hugged or told "I love you" so when I did fall in love with my husband and he so openly could say those words and demonstrate with hugs I was very uncomfortable. But I could write him the best love letters ever! Now, I am a hugger and say, "I love you" all the time to him and my children and grandchildren. So I can relate to Shakespeare in this sonnet.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4114 on:** July 24, 2016, 02:02:57 AM »

Pat thanks for the reminder to look again at the last two lines - they are lovely - "Love's fine wit" - just hearing that phrase aloud is lovely.

Gardens are a magical place aren't they Bellamarie nothing like planting a garden - learning what will grow best in a certain spot and then seeing the visiting animal, bird and insect life add to the show. You too, so many of us grew up in homes that putting it politely were reserved showing their affection. Now to put those affectionate words into beautiful prose - wow - hope to pick up some ideas as we read these Sonnets. I have tons of notepaper that I keep saying I am going to get back in the habit of sending weekly notes to family and friends - with email and messaging we no longer write notes and yet, receiving one is such a lift that I keep thinking I could be lifting others.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4115 on:** July 24, 2016, 02:04:41 AM »

Shakespeare Sonnet XXIV

Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'd
Thy beauty's form in table of my heart;
My body is the frame wherein 'tis held,
And perspective it is the painter's art.
For through the painter must you see his skill,
To find where your true image pictured lies;
Which in my bosom's shop is hanging still,
That hath his windows glazed with thine eyes.
Now see what good turns eyes for eyes have done:
Mine eyes have drawn thy shape, and thine for me
Are windows to my breast, where-through the sun
Delights to peep, to gaze therein on thee;
Yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art;
They draw but what they see, know not the heart.

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv08LMoMsGs

bellamarie · « **Reply #4116 on:** July 24, 2016, 12:00:28 PM »

Sonnet XX1V

This is truly an amazing expression of one's love captured through the eyes and the heart! I think this just may be my very favorite of all time poems!! I am going to make a copy of it and frame it and place it where I can see it often. Shakespeare has truly outdone himself here, this sonnet has been worth all the wait and the muddling through the procreation sonnets. I love every line of this sonnet!!!

I am a novice, but obsessive photographer. Everytime I see something beautiful, unique, touching to me I MUST capture it with my camera. (I drive everyone crazy!) If I don't have my camera with me, which is rare, I blink and say I'm taking a picture to last in my memory. As a painter who must capture that special feeling with the stroke of his brush and paints, so too must I capture them with the click of my camera. Shakespeare has done this with his ink and paper.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4117 on:** July 25, 2016, 01:13:59 AM »

One of those days - not sure what I accomplished - it was hot - been taking care of some damage done to my front garden by my crazy mean-spirited neighbor and the poison he used made me so sick I got scared till I called and discussing it realized the easiest poison to use on Rosemary bushes is Sevin and the treatment is baking soda -

If it helped within a half hour we nailed it and it did - my arm no longer on fire and the bumps all went down - next was to shower in it, make a paste where I used my hands to hold the affected branches when I cut them and my feet since I seldom wear shoes working in the garden - drank it to take care of my swollen tongue and throat - it worked then diarrhea for the rest of the day and had to pull out all my help for breathing since it did a number on my lungs.

Looks like the soil is contaminated and the best recommendation is it will take 3 years to recoup. Heartsick - it was the garden I created in memory of my son who loved to garden - there really is no way to get even without a never ending war that I have now since this is the second Rosemary bush he took down - the last he actually cut it to the ground - I hate this - he is a bully and he wins - He does this in the middle of the night - Needless to say Shakespeare got short shrift today while I tried to repair my body and a broken heart.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4118 on:** July 25, 2016, 01:19:20 AM »

before we leave this - the art work - what do you think is her jerkin made of sable or velvet - the sleeves are for sure velvet but the jerkin is so dark it is difficult to tell and I am thinking sable can be very refined without all that furry look of most furs - she appears to be by her cap someone from maybe the Netherlands rather than from London - during the 16th century I do not think there was another city in Britain that would have artists so I put her North where it would be cold and therefore wonder the material used to make the jerkin.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4119 on:** July 25, 2016, 01:22:59 AM »

the line that grabbed me is - "Now see what good turns eyes for eyes have done:" - calm - no drama - and fragile.

News:

Author Topic: Poetry Page (Read 837189 times)