An oration by James Louis Steed of the 10th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the tenth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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.
Author: Steed Productions
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 9 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 9th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the ninth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 8 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 8th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the eighth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 7 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 7th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the seventh of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. Rather than dwelling on the cold winter this sonnet compares the life of the fair youth to the bright sun and its passage across the sky throughout the day. The warning, though, is still the same, if only a little more specific. Have a son or the setting sun of your life will be the last anyone will ever think of you.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 6 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 6th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the sixth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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!
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 5 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 5th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the fifth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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.
William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 4 Recited by James Louis Steed
An oration by James Louis Steed of the 4th of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets published in 1609. This sonnet is the fourth of the author’s “Fair Youth” and “procreation” sonnets. 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.
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 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