Sonnet 73 That time of year thou mayst in me behold

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inLadyBudd, Poetry, Sunday Evening Reflection, William ShakespeareTags:, , , ,

Welcome to September, the month that leads into the brilliant autumn colours and the warmth of Harvest and Thanksgiving. September has a mellow poignancy that reminds us of the passing of years.

Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare brings forth natural metaphors to signify the coming of old age. We move ever forward in our timeline and recognize that “sunset fadeth in the west” comes to all. And yet, it is at the moment we face the inevitability of endings that love becomes stronger, more vibrant, more enduring.

Please join me in reciting Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare.

Sonnet 73 That time of year thou mayst in me behold

by William Shakespeare

That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.
In me thou see'st the twilight of such day
As after sunset fadeth in the west,
Which by and by black night doth take away,
Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire,
Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by.
This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

39 thoughts on “Sonnet 73 That time of year thou mayst in me behold”

    1. September is my favourite month and autumn is my favourite season, Liz. There is a poignancy that comes from the last days before winter sets in. The best walks comes under the falling leaves.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. September is often a favourite with me, but the weather has been unexpectedly dismal. And it’s surprising how the whole country has been involved in feeling the loss of our figurehead after so very many years. It’s affected everyone, even those who hadn’t expected to be touched. So now September this year n Britain has a different feel to it.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Dearest Rebecca,
    what a great poem you have chosen and so well read. Thank you very much. We love Shakespeare’s sonnets and just recently read about the mysterious Black Lady in some of the other sonnets.
    With big hugs and lots of love to our dear friends on the other side of the big waters
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Klausbernd, for your encouraging comments. Sonnet 130 fascinates me, especially the last lines:

      “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.”

      Who was the Dark Lady? No one seems to know, which adds mystery and intrigue to the sonnets.

      Sending much love and hugs to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. What a beautiful love sonnet, dear Rebecca. Shakespeare stands in the tradition of Petrarch (Petraca) and Dante with these love sonnets.
        Love ❤ ❤ and hugs 🤗 🤗
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I agree, Klausbernd – when I read the aloud, there is an added vibrancy to the words. This year was the year for reading War & Peace. 2023 will be the year I read The Divine Comedy. Sending much love and hugs with great speed to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Dear Rebecca,
        we can recommend a very helpful book understanding the background of Dante’s The Divine Comedy: A.N. Wilson “Dante in Love”. This book makes you understand all the references in this great poem.
        Keep well, healthy and happy.
        With much LOVE
        The Fab Four of Cley
        🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Hi Klausbernd – thank you for the recommendation. I have found the book in paperback format. This will be an excellent guide throughout my reading. Sending much love and hugs along with my gratitude to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Marian, for your lovely comments. Shakespeare had a marvelous way of exploring the phenomenon of time and aging. It seems as if I am still 18 and yet I know that time has brought me with swift wings to this time of my life. Zoom Zoom!!!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. What I found most compelling is that love evolves as we age, becoming clearer, more distinct, more precious. We recognize that endings are inevitable even as our understanding of the human experience increases.

      Liked by 2 people

  10. Very beautiful, Rebecca. You can’t beat Shakespeare. Greg and I had a run in about Shakespeare over the monkey typing test. He claims that if you gave a monkey a typewriter and let it type into perpetuity, it would eventually type all of Shakespeare’s plays. I was horrified that he should think that the brilliance of Shakespeare could ever be reproduced in such a scientific manner. My little philistine – hehe.

    Liked by 2 people

  11. I must hang on to this beautiful poem by Master Shakespeare because I’m such a “Sonny” boy and always looking sceptically towards cold! Of course, with this masterpiece and hearing your beautiful voice, Autumn can still have its marvellous sight. Thank you, dear Rebecca.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I am so pleased that you joined me in autumn, Alaedin, and shared a Shakespeare moment. Vancouver will be going into the rainy season in a few weeks, but before that happens there is a marvelous time of colour.

      Liked by 2 people

    1. When I read “That time of year thou mayst in me behold….” I thought of when I look into the mirror and see my face, recognizing that life has moved ever forward and that love and hope grow ever more precious as the years go by…. Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Linda!

      Liked by 2 people

  13. Ahhh! Wm Shakespeare! A really lovely poem, and so well read. September and Autumn! what a beautiful time of year, all the turning of green leaves to the colorful and bright long sides of the trees from top to bottom! And, we have the memory of the long bright and sunny days and now we can enjoy the lovely full moon so big in the night sky! We live in a beautiful world

    Liked by 2 people

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