Isn’t autumn wonderful? So much color and such a beautiful harvest. I don’t even have the words to describe it. So, I will defer to someone else, who described it far better and far more vividly. I am always happy to defer to William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers of all times. He shaped the English language, and he explored all aspects of life in his time and in the past. The fact that we still read Shakespearean poetry and perform Shakespeare’s plays is a testament to his timeless brilliance.
Sonnet 73 is a beautiful description of autumn:
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 ruined 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.
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the deathbed whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourished by.
This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,
To love that well which thou must leave ere long.
Isn’t the imagery about the change of seasons so incredibly vivid? This is just one of Shakespeare’s expressive sonnets about life, love, seasons, and so much more. It reminds me of those days during the COVID-19 lockdown, when I had the opportunity to listen to Shakespearean actor Patrick Stewart reading one Shakespearean sonnet each day. I looked forward to that as an special treat for the day.
And speaking about special treats, I hope that I provide you a few during this month’s Ultimate Blogging Challenge. You never know what they will be because I usually don’t know, either. Maybe a bit of art or a few photographs or a story about a leaf chasing adventure or… more Shakespeare!!
Stay tuned!!!
Hi Alice, thanks for the autumn inspiration 😊. We used to live in Shakespear’s birth town and I used to love the autumn cause that’s when the streets weren’t full of tourists anymore 😆… Happy UBC!
Oh wow! So interesting! I understand about the excitement of tourists departing! I live near Niagara Falls and the tourists are definitely fewer in number in the fall. Not very many in winter, but that’s when the Falls are the most beautiful. The ice is shiny and radiant.
The leaves are just starting to turn here in West Michigan. This is the first time in my adult life I’ve lived in a state that has 4 “seasons” and I love all of them!
Oooh, I am so happy for you! I’ve seen some leaves that have turned here in Western New York, as well!
Hi Alice! Always good to see you again. And yes, autumn is wonderful!! I hope one of your surprises this month will be a story or two with a lovable bear in it. 🙂
Hi Jeanine, you might be in for a bigger surprise, as to the number of lovable bears!
Hi Alice! It is a beautiful golden fall. We’ve been having some lovely weather. Thanks for Shakespeare’s words. I took a class on him in university. I have some of his plays. I shall add them to my list to read.
Hi Lily, I am so happy that you’re having such a beautiful fall and also that you like Shakespeare so much!!!
Alice, thanks for the sonnet! I was not familiar with that one. It’s lovely. I do love the signals of the Fall season– pumpkins, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin creamer… oh, and cooler temperatures, early Fall rains, changing leaves in our upstate towns. Different fragrances in the air. Looking forward to what you may share this month!
Thank you so much, Kebba! I am looking forward to your posts, too!
The idea of not knowing what each day will bring and simply being open to the surprise feels especially fitting for this challenge. This is my first time participating, so I’m looking forward to discovering all the little “special treats” this community has to offer throughout October. 💜
Thank you, and welcome to the challenge, Megan!