Comfort and despair
I love; two love’s tug-of-war —
I’ll live in doubt till … ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Two loves I have of comfort and despair, — Sonnet CXLIV – William Shakespeare ↩

Thy prize flies from thee.
So you fly to catch your ‘catch’.
Still thy ‘Will’ when caught. ¹


© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch — Sonnet CXLIII – William Shakespeare ↩

My love is my sin;
I’ve robbed other beds their bedding,
I’ve left without leave.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved

1. Love is my sin and thy dear virtue hate,— Sonnet CXLII – William Shakespeare ↩

Mine eyes love you not.
Five senses sense not with lust.
Yet, plagued I have been. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,— Sonnet CXLI – William Shakespeare ↩

The ill need physic,
for want of Physician’s fair.
Love’s my sole madness.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press— Sonnet CXL – William Shakespeare ↩

May you slay outright.
Let not your tongue injure me —
Pray thee, end this pain. ¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. O, call not me to justify the wrong — Sonnet CXXXIX – William Shakespeare ↩

My love is truth, though
I know we lie with true tongue,
I hear twisted ears.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. When my love swears that she is made of truth— Sonnet CXXXVIII – William Shakespeare ↩

Love’s the blind fool that
makes me see things as they’re not —
Falsehood’s seem so true.¹

© rl busséll 2019 – All rights reserved.

1. Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes,— Sonnet CXXXVII – William Shakespeare ↩