Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONNET: 127, by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: In the old age black was not counted fair Last Line: That every tongue says beauty should look so. Variant Title(s): "in The Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair""; | ||||||||
In the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name; But now is black beauty's successive heir, And beauty slander'd with a bastard shame: For since each hand hath put on nature's power, Fairing the foul with art's false borrow'd face, Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower, But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace. Therefore my mistress' brows are raven black, Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack, Slandering creation with a false esteem: Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe, That every tongue says beauty should look so. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...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 ARIEL'S SONG (2), FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AUBADE [OR, A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN], FR. CYMBELINE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE CALIBAN [ON THE ISLAND], FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FANCY, FR. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FESTE'S SONG (1), FR. TWELFTH NIGHT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FESTE'S SONG (2), FR. TWELFTH NIGHT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE FRIENDSHIP [OR, THE TRUE FRIEND] by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE HEALTHFUL OLD AGE, FR. AS YOU LIKE IT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IMAGINATION, FR. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE |
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