William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Eleven (As Fast As Thou Shalt Wane, So Fast Thou Grow’st) is the 11th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the eleventh of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The fair youth’s superior human qualities make it especially important that he carry out the biological imperative, a plan developed by mother nature herself. If all humans believed as he does and decide not to follow the plan and bear children, it would mean the end of the race in three generations’ time. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
Category: Public Domain Source Material
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 13 Full Poem Text
O! that you were your self; but, love, you are No longer yours, than you your self here live: Against this coming end you should prepare, And your sweet semblance to some other give: So should that beauty which you hold in lease Find no determination; then you were Yourself again, after yourself’s decease, When… Continue reading William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 13 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 14 Full Poem Text
Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck; And yet methinks I have Astronomy, But not to tell of good or evil luck, Of plagues, of dearths, or seasons’ quality; Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell, Pointing to each his thunder, rain and wind, Or say with princes if it shall go… Continue reading William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 14 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 4 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Four (Unthrifty Loveliness, Why Dost Thou Spend) is the 4th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the fourth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Shakespeare compares the gifts of nature to those of commerce quite explicitly in this sonnet. The irony, though, is that nature’s gift to us of youth and the consequent beauty is not really a gift at all. It is really only on loan to us and it is up to us to, essentially, spend the gift wisely through rearing children. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 5 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Five (Those Hours, That With Gentle Work Did Frame) is the 5th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the fifth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Shakespeare metaphorically uses seasons to describe the timeline of life. Specifically, winter is used to describe the latter years. The perfume of a flower distilled in summer reminds us of the once living beauty of the plant. Much like our children carry on in our winter years, reminding us of the summer of our lives. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 6 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Six (Then Let Not Winter’s Ragged Hand Deface) is the 6th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the sixth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Again, we see winter as a metaphor for aging as Shakespeare warns the fair youth about the prospect of growing old and dying before bearing children. In fact, there is a mathematical formula presented in this sonnet calculating just how happy the young man could be based off of the number of children he has! The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 7 Full Poem Text
Lo! in the orient when the gracious light Lifts up his burning head, each under eye Doth homage to his new-appearing sight, Serving with looks his sacred majesty; And having climbed the steep-up heavenly hill, Resembling strong youth in his middle age, Yet mortal looks adore his beauty still, Attending on his golden pilgrimage: But… Continue reading William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 7 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 8 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Eight (Music To Hear, Why Hear’st Thou Music Sadly?) is the 8th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the eighth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Why is the fair youth annoyed by the harmony he sees in families around him? He enjoys music, does he not? Music is more than a single note and a single note is not music. He needs a family with him to witness the tranquil quality of harmony represented by the concept of polyphonic music in this sonnet. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 9 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Nine (Is It For Fear To Wet A Widow’s Eye) is the 9th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the ninth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Shakespeare asks the fair youth if it is out of fear of leaving a young widow that he remain single. He then goes on to say that, if that is the case, it is still better to have loved and lost. And if he were to bear a child with his potential wife, he would live on through that child and not really be lost to her. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 10 Full Poem Text
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet Ten (For Shame Deny That Thou Bear’st Love To Any) is the 10th of his 154 sonnets published in 1609 and the tenth of the “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. It is a typical Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains followed by a couplet. It also has the characteristic rhyme scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. There’s a fine line between love and hate and the fair youth is walking that line. Though he’s not walking it for the sake of his love of others. According to Shakespeare, his love of self is a self-destructive force that weighs more heavily on the hate side of the fine line. The sonnet is included here for reference and reading enjoyment.