A tale told by an idiot? Methinks
thou dost protest too much. In brevity,
the soul of wit, yet I shall be a fool,
for there are scarce more things in heaven, earth
than are dreamt of in your philosophy
and as the night the day, thou canst not then
be false to any man, nor die but once.
We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and
our little life is rounded with a sleep.
To sleep! Perchance to dream a little dream -
and lo! what light through yonder window breaks?
The fault lies not within the stars, but in
ourselves; we know what we are, but know not
what we may be, and yet, what’s in a name?
The course of true love never did run smooth...
If music be the food of love, play on,
for all that glisters is not gold, and you,
dear sir, have loved both wisely, well indeed.
Rest easy, bard, for well thou wore the crown.
----------
Phrases from various works of Shakespeare in honor of the bard's birthday
I mean, long Victorian verses pining for a pure lover who never scratches her own ass.
The bronzed paeans to those who died in war or a meaningless cause.
Or the inscribed moans of the armature bard holding a petunia.
I hate it.
BUT
“If music be the food of love, play on.” OK, OK. I love Shakespeare. But he is Shakespeare.
And then I always had a thing for Viola.
And the Tower of Song. Lennie can and does bring tears to my eyes.
Or “45 years from now” the vaulting words of Stan Rogers. Gone too soon. “I wish I were in Sherbrooke now.”
So maybe I do like poetry. Some poetry.
But I don’t like my poetry. That’s for sure.
So there.
*”If music be the food of love, play on.”
Play hard, but with a sweet guitar, play softly too.
Each note you play, I’ll sing along with you.
Play for me from night until the dawn.
If dancing be the food of love, dance on.
Tango me or waltz me around the room.
Rock and roll me underneath the moon.
Let me glide beside you like chiffon.
If artwork be the food of love, paint on.
Swirl your many colors; paint with glory
our wonderful and everlasting story -
works of art our progeny might smile upon.
* first line referenced to Shakespeare
Written Feb. 2, 2020 and posted Feb. 9. I wrote this actually last week and can't believe I did not notice the contest of Silent One was closing out; time just keeps getting away from me!
If music be the food of love, play on
Nourish that love and feed our hungry heart
A loveless world would affect everyone
Romance would die and lovers they would part.
So play sweet music for true love to thrive
And give that love the food of precious sounds
For without it mankind would not survive
We must create a love that knows no bounds.
Just imagine how dark our world would be
No smiles, kisses or love just misery
For romantics t'would be a tragedy
lovers would wander life so aimlessly.
So do play on and feed that precious love
Let Cupids arrows rain down from above.
Written 3rd February 2020
For famous poetic lines 2 poetry contest sponsored by Silent One.
..........................................................
The opening line to this sonnet :If music be the food of love, play on.
Is a line from twelfth night and credit goes to the writer of the play :William Shakespeare.
an aria of a melody resounds in me,
with each note, one romantic lyric-
for i am transcended
the beaut of his harp shall comfort me,
relieve the desultory mind i wear-
freeing me with his love i adore,
more promises of exhuberant affection
with a connection i long to keep safe
HIS VOICE RESONATES IN MY SORE SOUL
(he holds me tight in the night)
i wrap my warm arms above his
shoulders and listen to the soft song
he sings with a whisper of a hush,
-i blush-
his rhythm-
incandescent
his rhyme-
quiescent
craving the love we share,
breaking bread at dusk and dawn;
beloved-
if music be the food of love…
-play on-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"if music be the food of love, play on" – Shakespeare
February 3, 2020
Sponsor - Silent One
If music be the food of love, play on
Claim the streets of London be filled, and its revelry be still,
Purged the households, and bay at their homes window sills,
Let tender labyrinths yield their cleared halls be an open song,
Spilled venturous notes befall upon unscripted pages, play on,
The summer breeze aloft butterflies to mingle the redolent mirth,
To give it counsel, make talent its sheets filled a righteous worth,
Of length aches a theme a songstress indulge let it solicit a tune,
Nay, cease, the mood of sour faces, a mark that killed-joyous June,
Silence, and put a march to thy step for the mundane that disturbs,
The grimaces invade the room and the deafening silence perturbs.
2020 February 03
Famous poetic lines 2 Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Silent One
"If music be the food of love, play on" - Shakespeare
Scott Joplin, Paul Simon and the Beatles pop,
The Stones, Dire Straits and, Yes & ZZ Top.
Bob Dylan plays his heart out, Northern Soul,
Rod Stewart, The Traveling Wilburys do their stuff,
And as if that isn't enough, there's Jeff Wayne,
With his War of the Worlds in a musical vein.
Cajun, Bluegrass and Dueling Banjos to boot.
I got Spike Jones & his city slickers, what a hoot.
Bill Haley, Leo Sayer, and some Monkeys abound,
Each one giving out their awesome own sound.
Now Meatloaf is a band I love to hear.
Coming close behind is the great Chris Rea.
Eric Clapton always stops me in my tracks,
Charlie Parker and Stan Getz on their Sax,
Some great big band sounds at their backs.
All this and more on my headphones tonight,
Just listening to music has been my delight.
I have cleared all the shelves, nothing is left,
All on my spare hard drive, I'll not be bereft.
I hope the charity shop this stuff can sell,
So more folk can enjoy this music as well.
© Dave Timperley 25/10/2018
The notes, oh the notes that soared above
The music to grab and hold the heart
A rhythm carried by the winds of life
Two things that cannot be keep apart
So feed the soul with music then
The sounds that bind us to each other
Spoken with unbroken line and phrases
Filling needs for self , for one another
In time the music will have a softer tone
But they belong together, hand and glove
The melodies will linger in each memory
Speaking softly..."If music be the food of love,
play on.."
"If music be the food of love, play on....."
Shakespeare, from- The Tempest-
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.