When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste.
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long since canceled woe,
And moan the expense of many a vanished sight.
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor'd and sorrows end.
- William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets
This was the poem I recited to my husband on Valentine's day two years ago -- thus my own Brigid tradition continues. Once again, I learned alot while memorizing it. I love how this poem ends, as I'm always a sucker for good endings.
There are many online analyses of Shakespeare's sonnets. For more on this particular sonnet, see here or here.
Why a poem today? It's the Thid Annual Blogger's Poetry Reading in honor of the Feast of Brigid and Groundhog's Day. Here's to hoping he doesn't see his shadow!
And did I remember on my own this year? No. I was reminded by this lovely poem on ispindle's blog. Not to worry, this year's Valentine's poem is already memorized ... you'll see it here in 2010 :-)
