Sonnet 29

This is probably one of the most underrated and beautiful sonnets I have ever read. Stand aside:

 “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out to the edge of doom”

And I'm going to kick “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” to the kerb. ‘Sonnet 29’ is probably my new favourite romantic piece of literature, perhaps even more gut-wrenching, albeit in a different light, than ‘The Listeners’ by Walter de la Mare. That is a beautiful poem which leaves a lot to the imagination, it leaves so much left unsaid that, you cannot help but feel the hollow pain of the traveller and the cold empty house left behind.

Whilst ‘The Listeners’ leaves one cold, ‘Sonnet 29’ gives a certain glow - a warmth that one cannot touch but certainly feel:

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

       That then I scorn to change my state with kings

However, sonnet 29 starts in a slow, dark ascent. At first the world is bleak and against them, no matter how loud they cry to the heavens. We have all don’t the same, wondering why we are bereft of hope, why others have what we so much desire. And yet, to say there is no hope, that there is no joy is false. They only have to think on those they love and the world becomes magical. Sparkling. Shining. Bright and rich – For they have you and that is all the wealth they need. Whether you consider this to be romantic love, familial or love within friends – there is light at the end of the tunnel. All is not lost – for you have all the wealth you need – I only have to think on thee.

I wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day,

With Love X