Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18”

Here is a sample of Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18.” This is known for its beautiful metaphor and imagery.

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 often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrim’d.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall death brag that thou wander’st 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.

Petrarchan example

A sample of a Petrarchan sonnet following the rhyme scheme ABAB ABAB CDCD

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days, in this dark house confined
My spirit, with a patient tone
God does not need men’s work or service.
Nor would I be a burden to his grace,
If I could find a way to serve him best.
But I know that even in my darkness,
My spirit shines, and God is near to me.
The angel came to me, and said,
Your strength is enough, but your soul is not.
I’ll bring you to the world, and let you see
The way to serve God, and to find peace.
And so I go, with hope and confidence,
To serve my God, and to find release.

Shakespearean example

Here is an example of a Shakespearean sonnet, following the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

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 often is his gold complexion dimm’d;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrim’d.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall death brag that thou wander’st 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.

Sonnet 18

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18

John Milton’s “When I consider how my light is spent”

John Milton’s sonnet “When I consider how my light is spent” reflects on themes of blindness, service, and faith. The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet that begins with the line “When I consider how my light is spent” and explores the poet’s dedication to God despite his blindness. The full text of the poem can be found in Milton’s 1645 collection.

Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18”