My dead have e’er fled,
Fled to flesh your loving heart —
their dew fell on you ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts — Sonnet XXXI, William Shakespeare ↩

I weep for time’s losses,
for those lost to endless night —
so to thee I flee ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. When to the sessions of sweet silent thought — Sonnet XXX, William Shakespeare ↩

Each night presses day
each day oppresses my night —
these twins taunt me e’er ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. How can I then return in happy plight — Sonnet XXVIII, William Shakespeare ↩

I find no night’s rest.
My flights of fancy flying —
face your face at night. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed — Sonnet XXVII William Shakespeare ↩

I will hide my love
in duty, writing with bare
naked word to clothe ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage — Sonnet XXVI William Shakespeare ↩

I’ll not seek favor:
public love’s foiled with small spoil —
as a rock I’m loved. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Let those who are in favor with their stars — Sonnet XXV William Shakespeare ↩

painter is my eye;
my love’s framed in pictured heart —
fadeless vision sees ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Mine eye hath played the painter, and hath steeled — Sonnet XXIV William Shakespeare ↩

As fearful actor
I stage my silent stumbling —
by books bear fair wit ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. As an unperfect actor on the stage — Sonnet XXIII, William Shakespeare ↩

Reflected self lies
when time corresponds not to
my love’s truest heart ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. My glass shall not persuade me I am old — Sonnet XXII William Shakespeare ↩

Muse is gilded false;
doubling lips coupled with song —
My love’s faint but true ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. So is it not with me as with that Muse — Sonnet XXI William Shakespeare ↩

Nature paints Eve’s face;
Man sets his gazing eyes on
love and love’s treasure ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted — Sonnet XX William Shakespeare ↩

Time do your worst, your
old pen shall not etch love’s brow —
love will outlive you ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Devouring time, blunt thou lion’s paws, — Sonnet XIX William Shakespeare ↩

summer’s lease does end
long as men breathe you’ll fade ne’er —
this gives life to you ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? — Sonnet XVIII William Shakespeare ↩

“beauty can’t be thus,”
they will say, “the poet lies” —
child will strike them dumb ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. Who will believe my verse in time to come, — Sonnet XVII William Shakespeare ↩

my pen is barren,
so are all my empty rhymes —
only fruit has life ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

Image: Copper engraving of William Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout 1623 with a facsimile of William Shakespeare’s signature.

1. But wherefore do not you a mightier way — Sonnet XVI William Shakespeare ↩