Sonnet 18 - William Shakespeare

What collection of poetry would be complete without at least one of Shakespeare's sonnets? Sonnet 18: Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day? is more a contrast to a summer's day. He lists the downsides of summer, then tells his love (it is assumed that is who the poem refers to) that her eternal summer would never fade as the summer itself does. Not even in death. Why? Because he has immortalized her in the poem. We may not know who he wrote it to, but even today, her memory lives on, just as he said, because we know that somewhere in history's pages lived a woman who inspired William Shakespeare thus.

"Sonnet 18." Narrated by an anonymous speaker. Online audio clip. Classic Poetry Aloud. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 3 May 2012.

"On His Blindness" - John Milton

I really enjoyed this poem. As a Christian myself, it is a great reminder to me that I can serve the Lord, even if I'm standing still in life for the time being.

"On His Blindness." Narrated by anonymous speaker. Classic Poetry Aloud. Online audio clip. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 3 May 2012.

"Ozymandias" - Percy Bysshe Shelley

I just love the way the speaker reads these poems on this site. I've bookmarked it and will listen to more as time allows in my free time. His voice is wonderful, and the feeling he puts into the reading is fabulous. This poem has a touch of irony in it. This great king, Ozymandias, long ago had a statue built warning the mighty to despair once they see his works. Yet years later, time and nature has destroyed all but his legs of the statue.

"Ozymandias." Narrated by anonymous speaker. Online audio clip. Classic Poetry Aloud. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 3 May 2012.

"Say Not the Struggle Nought Availeth" - Arthur Hugh Clough

I love this poem. It's an eloquent way of saying "Don't give up." The second stanza is my favorite. To paraphrase, if you're in a battle with your comrades, your fears may be lying to you and deceiving you. It may actually be that your fellow soldiers, through the smoke of battle, are chasing the enemy into retreat, and if you would just help, they could control the field and win.
This poem is the perfect example of poetry - it's getting a point across, in a "pretty" way.

"Say Not the Struggle Nought Availeth." Narrated by anonymous speaker. Online audio clip. Classic Poetry Aloud. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 3 May 2012.

"Mirror" - Sylvia Plath

This is an interesting poem. It is an interesting perspective from an inanimate object that we most likely never think twice about. However - if your mirror could talk...what would it say?


"Mirror." Read by an anonymous speaker. Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed 3 May 2012.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning - How Do I Love Thee?

It's a well-known line, but listen to the whole poem. It's one of those poems that makes a female's heart melt, and it makes me think of my own love, and how much he means to me.

"How Do I Love Thee?" Read by an anonymous speaker. Online audio clip. Classic Poetry Aloud. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 1 May 2012.

Wilfred Owen - Dulce et Decorum

I enjoy Owen's poems - not because they are a 'feel good' sort of poem, but because they put a true face on soldiers' personal struggles. Listen to this reading all the way through. It will give you chills. Also, on a side note, I looked up the last line "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." It is roughly translated as "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country." Now, listen or read the last several lines again. It makes it so much more clear, doesn't it?

"Dulce et Decorum" Read by an anonymous speaker. Online audio clip. Classic Poetry Aloud. http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com. Accessed 1 May 2012.