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Poetry

Sonnet 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand painted

A woman's face with nature's own hand painted, Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion; A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted With shifting change, as is false women's fashion: An eye more bright than theirs, less false in...

Universal

William Shakespeare

105 words

Poetry

Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,...

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

A Version of Ossian's Address to the Sun. From the Poem "Carthon."

who rollest in yon azure field, Round as the orb of my forefather's shield, Whence are thy beams? From what eternal store Dost thou, O Sun! thy vast effulgence pour?

Universal

George Gordon, Lord Byron

295 words

Poetry

Sonnet 110: Alas! 'tis true, I have gone here and there

'tis true, I have gone here and there, And made my self a motley to the view, Gor'd mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear, Made old offences of affections new; Most true it is, that I have...

Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter My Heart, Three-Person'd God

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.

Lines: 'When the Lamp Is Shattered'

When the lamp is shattered The light in the dust lies dead-- When the cloud is scattered The rainbow's glory is shed. When the lute is broken, Sweet tones are remembered not; When the lips have spoken, Loved accents are soon forgot.

The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus.

THE PROLOGUE. "No more of this, for Godde's dignity!" Quoth oure Hoste; "for thou makest me So weary of thy very lewedness, That, all so wisly God my soule bless, Mine eares ache for thy drafty speech.

Sonnet 69: Those parts of thee that the world's eye doth view

Those parts of thee that the world's eye doth view Want nothing that the thought of hearts can mend; All tongues--the voice of souls--give thee that due, Uttering bare truth, even so as foes commend.

To Jane: 'The Keen Stars Were Twinkling'

The keen stars were twinkling, And the fair moon was rising among them, Dear Jane! The guitar was tinkling, But the notes were not sweet till you sung them Again.

Condolatory Address to Sarah Countess of Jersey, on the Prince Regent's Returning Her Picture to Mrs. Mee

WHEN the vain triumph of the imperial lord, Whom servile Rome obeyed, and yet abhorred, Gave to the vulgar gaze each glorious bust, That left a likeness of the brave, or just; What most admired each scrutinising eye Of all that decked that passing pageantry?

Universal

George Gordon, Lord Byron

341 words

Poetry

Homer's Hymn to the Earth: Mother of All

O universal Mother, who dost keep From everlasting thy foundations deep, Eldest of things, Great Earth, I sing of thee!

Sonnet 152: In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn

In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn, But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing; In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn, In vowing new hate after new love bearing: But why of two oaths' breach...

Sonnet 70: That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect

That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect, For slander's mark was ever yet the fair; The ornament of beauty is suspect, A crow that flies in heaven's sweetest air.

Sonnet 35: No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done

No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done: Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud: Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun, And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.

Sonnet 121: 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd

'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd, When not to be receives reproach of being; And the just pleasure lost, which is so deem'd Not by our feeling, but by others' seeing: For why should others' false adulterate eyes...

Sonnet 100: Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long

Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long, To speak of that which gives thee all thy might? Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song, Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light?

Sonnet 11: As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st

As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st, In one of thine, from that which thou departest; And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow'st, Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest, Herein lives wisdom, beauty,...

Sonnet 64: When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd

When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd The rich-proud cost of outworn buried age; When sometime lofty towers I see down-raz'd, And brass eternal slave to mortal rage; When I have seen the hungry ocean gain Advantage on...

Sonnet 135: Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'

Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,' And 'Will' to boot, and 'Will' in over-plus; More than enough am I that vex'd thee still, To thy sweet will making addition thus. Wilt thou, whose will is large and spacious,...

Sonnet 102: My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming

My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming; I love not less, though less the show appear; That love is merchandiz'd, whose rich esteeming, The owner's tongue doth publish every where.

Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint

This is my play's last scene, here heavens appoint My pilgrimage's last mile; and my race Idly, yet quickly run, hath this last pace, My span's last inch, my minute's latest point, And gluttonous death, will instantly unjoint My body...

'Twas just this time, last year, I died.

I know I heard the Corn, When I was carried by the Farms -- It had the Tassels on -- I thought how yellow it would look -- When Richard went to mill -- And then, I wanted to get...

Universal

Emily Dickinson

129 words

Browse Sermon Illustrations

Sonnet 88: When thou shalt be dispos'd to set me light

Sonnet 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand painted

Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

A Version of Ossian's Address to the Sun. From the Poem "Carthon."

Sonnet 110: Alas! 'tis true, I have gone here and there

Holy Sonnet XIV: Batter My Heart, Three-Person'd God

Lines: 'When the Lamp Is Shattered'

The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer's Tale of Meliboeus.

Sonnet 69: Those parts of thee that the world's eye doth view

To Jane: 'The Keen Stars Were Twinkling'

Condolatory Address to Sarah Countess of Jersey, on the Prince Regent's Returning Her Picture to Mrs. Mee

Homer's Hymn to the Earth: Mother of All

Sonnet 152: In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn

Sonnet 70: That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect

Sonnet 35: No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done

Sonnet 121: 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd

Sonnet 100: Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long

Sonnet 11: As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st

Sonnet 64: When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd

Sonnet 135: Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'

Sonnet 102: My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming

Holy Sonnet VI: This Is My Play's Last Scene, Here Heavens Appoint

'Twas just this time, last year, I died.