Brain Cells on Parade

There’s apparently an idea making the rounds of certain blogs. I saw it in meryddian’s journal. I quote it here:

“When you see a Shakespeare quote in a journal, post one in yours.”

So! I have seen a Shakespeare quote in a journal, and I’m in. The following is a favorite of mine from way back:

Sonnet 130
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

I smiled when Brother Michael read that one to us back in high school, and I still smile. I suppose it figures that such a verse would appeal to me – to I who have written so many parodies in song and verse, that is. Here we have Mr. S parodying the romantic poetry of the day.

So now you know the rules. As the song says, “Brush up your Shakespeare…”