Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day

William Shakespeare SONNET 18


Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:




Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:




Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;




And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:




But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;



Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:


So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.



I had fun interweaving this classic Shakespearean sonnet with scenes from a hammock, taken at our friends’ lakeside cottage. The final photo is NOT our friends’ house, but is a house across the lake from where they live. I liked the evening lighting falling on the house.

The photos were taken this past Saturday, which was a picture perfect day--blue skies, lovely clouds, good food, wonderful fellowship--if that doesn't define a summer's day, I don't know what does.


19 comments:

possumlady said...

What a wonderful way to end the day with such a lovely poem and photos. The food does look quite good also! Thank you!

I'm taking a breather from Harry P. Only up to Chapter 7 and it has already been sad and unnerving.

Rhonda said...

Oh, I do love that sonnet. It's right up there with "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments..." (Sonnet 116), which a friend read at my wedding.

The food looks yummy. Especially the wine!

Ruth said...

I need this post on the wall above my desk at work, which has been moved into a dark corner of a dingy room. A day like you picture deserves to be extended.
ruth

KGMom said...

Possumlady--keep me posted on your Harry Potter progress, just don't reveal the ending.

Rhonda--my personal favorite Shakespeare sonner? Sonnet 73

Ruth--sorry your desk has been moved to a dark and dingy corner. Print away on the summer's day post!

Anonymous said...

This is soo wonderful and I second thee-to-summer-day

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Oooh, I loved this post! Perfectly captures summer. Nice toes too!

Dorothy said...

Donna what a lovely poem to go along with your photos. Looks like you had a restful, happy, summer weekend at the lake!

Mary said...

The perfect summer weekend with a wonderful sonnet. You know how to enjoy it for all its worth.

Beautful views and GOOD FOOD!

Anvilcloud said...

Pretty darn creative. Nicely done.

dmmgmfm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dmmgmfm said...

That is truly lovely.

Anonymous said...

I wish I could write like this! You make it all look so simple Donna - a beautiful day, perfect pictures and then your unusual literary mind picks this poem to blend in. Such a delight. And the pictures below - sunsets-- my favorites.

Larry said...

That was a very fun and light post-Nice photos too (except for the dudes).

Anonymous said...

I don't care for Shakespeare, but that was pretty cool!

Elaine Cougler Author said...

Wow! I love Willie's sonnets and your embellishment of this one is delightful. The pic of the toes in the hammock says it all.

Pam said...

I love that sonnet and your pictures are a nice touch, especially the one of the hammock. Ahhhhh!

Cathy said...

Oh my gosh! Donna! Gorgeous. Lovely. I'm so behind on my blogging and look what I've missed. Oh if you could just read it aloud to me :0)

Naturegirl said...

Scenes like these are good for my spirit today ~thank you for your comforting words~ regarding the death of my beloved cat..yes these fur friends are part of our family and the loss is great! hugs NG

cat59 said...

How creative. Just goes to show what a well-read person can do when inspired by a beautiful summer day. Thanks for sharing.