Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONNET: 129, by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Recitation Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The expense of spirit in a waste of shame / is lust in action Last Line: To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. Variant Title(s): "past Reason Hunted;""th' Expense Of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame"";sonnet #129; Subject(s): Love; Lust | ||||||||
The expense of spirit in a waste of shame Is lust in action; and till action, lust Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame, Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust, Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight, Past reason hunted, and no sooner had Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait On purpose laid to make the taker mad; Mad in pursuit and in possession so; Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme; A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe; Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream. All this the world well knows; yet none knows well To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GROWING UP WITH A SEARS CATALOG IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA by KHALED MATTAWA LOVING YOU IN FLEMISH by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR AN AMERICAN SCENE by NORMAN DUBIE THE EXPENSE OF SPIRIT by ALICE FULTON EROS AT TEMPLE STREAM by DENISE LEVERTOV AIRY NOTHINGS. FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE APRIL, FR. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ARIEL'S SONG (1) [OR, DIRGE] [OR, A SEA DIRGE]. FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE |
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