Lunatics mark the silver rule of four
And set scripture forth to worship the hunt,
Ignoring said laws these four now explore
The thrill of the chase, affront of loves brunt.
Blinded by idleness Cupid forms charms,
Thieves mends and juggles low-base affection,
Shapes fantasy, calls eyeless men to arms,
Rehearsing for us pains of perfection.
Yet ravelled sleeve of care brings about change,
From top to bottom order is restored.
Our play now seems foolish, our dreaming strange,
Nuptial blessing ties together four-scored.
From sweet-musk roses shadows often creep,
These visions are mended slumbering deep.
“Blinded by idleness”, I love how you put that. Can I ask what inspired this poem?
Lily
Hi Lily,
The sonnet is a distilled form of the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Nights Dream. A lot of the poetry uses direct lines from the play, for example, the flower used to charm the eyes of the four lovers is called ‘love-in-idleness’ and there are many references to cupid, specifically, ‘love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind / and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind’. Over the next couple of weeks Im trying to write one of these a day, thanks very much for reading and liking.
Tom.
Oh wow, its been so long since I read it and I had no idea! Are you writing more about A Midsummer Nights Dream, or one a day about different plays or works?
Lily
The aim is to do 10 sonnets for 10 different shakespeare plays in 10 days!