Riding Lessons: Notes of an Online Journal

I may not be clear (cough, cough) but my love of poetry began with Shakespeare's Sonnet #121 This Better to be Vile than Vile Esteemed.

I love this nod to William and it's clever ending.

geoff

Excellent, Geoff:

'Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
When not to be, receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost, which is so deemed,
Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing.
For why should others' false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses, reckon up their own,
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts, my deeds must not be shown
    Unless this general evil they maintain,
    All men are bad and in their badness reign.

Love the poignant humour at the end.

I thank you most gracious, Josh.

Kathy this is a fabulous tribute to Shakespeare! I discovered poetry through him and was ignited.  

Thank you very much, dear Ahavati.  This does not surprise me for your always gracious writing. x

Kathy

I was greatly influenced by him - once I was old enough to understand his writing, which was my epiphany.

Thank you dear Jade for this shared bit of yourself:  the history of a poet who has written for years is always a pleasure for one's readers to know.  And yes, being able to read Shakespeare often puts off those who might succeed once they give themselves a chance.

blessings,
Kathy