Intro 1: William Shakespeare, Sonnet I

Posted by David Emeron on

From fairest creatures we desire increase,
That thereby beauty’s rose might never die,
But as the riper should by time decease,
His tender heir might bear his memory:

But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes,
Feed’st thy light’st flame with self-substantial fuel,
Making a famine where abundance lies,
Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel.

Thou that art now the world’s fresh ornament
And only herald to the gaudy spring,
Within thine own bud buriest thy content
And, tender churl, makest waste in niggarding.

Pity the world, or else this glutton be,
To eat the world’s due, by the grave and thee.

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13 responses to “Intro 1: William Shakespeare, Sonnet I”

    • This is the intro to the next sonnet on the same day, penned, of course, by Shakespeare.

      This begins a series wherein (excepting that I actually began with sonnet 18) I write a sonnet for each of Shakespeare’s sonnets. Writing to myself as a young man as did he.

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    • Yes. This; plus he is speaking to himself as a young man, and to all young men, by implication, warning himself not to waste the blush of youth on such things; which in truth, Shakespeare did not do, by and large.

      This is rather a “side project” wherein I quote–and subsequently write another of a similar bent to myself–each of Shakespeare’s sonnets, of which the first 126 are most likely notes to his younger self, and which the last 30 or so (excepting two, if I remember correctly) are similarly penned however on a different subject–the matter of love regarding the “Dark Lady.” These actually provide further clues which suggest even more that all of these sonnets are, in fact written to himself, rather than to someone specific of his acquaintance; and as probably, not to young men in general; although of course all of us–both sexes, with perhaps a few exceptions here and there specific to men–may benefit from his advice.

      This project may or may not go to completion; however it is a wonderful way for one to study Shakespeare’s sonnets in detail. As I am not neuro-typical, and therefore was a rather odd young man, such advice as I give myself will often be quite different from that of Shakespeare’s; still the Bard’s advice would have been sage for me to heed as much as for anyone, to be sure.

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    • Yes, I had similar thoughts as yours in my first response which led me to write the scripture…to gain the whole world…Mark 8:36. This is a juxtaposition or close association to “…warning him not to waste the blush of youth on such things…” They both go hand-in-hand. I hope to read more of your Sonnet(s) (18) sir.

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    • Thanks for your interesting insights! I write one (at least) every day, except when I am a bit late (like now) and I have a couple to catch up from earlier this month, which I would have finished long ago, except that I have other work as well.

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    • And when it is a “Shakespeare project” sonnet, it will be obvious because I will, as in the other two cases (so far) use Shakespeare’s sonnet itself as the introduction instead of writing the introduction myself. Otherwise they will be continuations of sequences which are ongoing (hence the periodic mixed up Roman numerals) or just single sonnets which are not in sequences at all.

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    • Although…. on a very minor point… as I have been wandering about this morning. I do not believe Shakespeare was ever Knighted, although he did purchase a coat of arms from the college or inn of heralds, or whatever it was then called. : ) Somehow I came upon that titbit and was for some reason reminded of this comment of yours. Hope this finds you well.

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    • Good ye greetings. Twas well and interesting mine chattest with thee. Thou art welcome at anytime to stoppeth by mine blog. Thou mayeth even peruse, “like” and or maketh thyself at home. Until then fare thee well. God ye well.😊

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  3. Pingback: Sometimes one project, and… | David Emeron: Sonnets

  4. Pingback: Sonnet I: Hourglass | David Emeron: Sonnets

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