101 Poems, Number 91

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

91: “Sonnet 18,” 1609, by William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

This was the first of sonnets by the Bard

That I would memorize. At first: No way!

I thought, These lines are really far too hard

For me. There was some stuff I understood—

A summer’s day, rough winds, the sun above.

But some? I felt I had a mind of wood—

Though I was sure the sonnet dealt with love.

And so I worked—and soon (not too) the words

Remained there in that tangled wood (my mind)—

I didn’t fear they’d wing away like birds,

For soon, with branches, they were well entwined.

     And then I wanted to increase the score—

     For in my wood no fear—no, nevermore.

Link to poem.