~~~~~
It is a sonnet. But truly, it was hard to keep it so short. An epic saga would be more fitting, as there is just so very much for which I, me, and mine should be lauded.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Shall I compare myself to summer’s day?
Nay – summer faints; I burn past summer’s prime.
The sun, abashed, retracts her gaudy ray
And steals her fire from my eternal shine.
My wit’s a forge where thunderbolts take birth;
The gods grow pale and whisper out my name,
Afraid to wake my loud and scornful mirth
And see their ancient fables drowned in shame.
The nine dear Muses kneel outside my door,
Slack harps, mute throats, till I consent to sing.
Fame trembles, pen in hand, to write my lore,
And crowns me sovereign of every thing.
Let angels blush and hide, let aeons reel
I school eternity itself to kneel.
~~~~~
This oil painting is not of me or by me but it does rather capture the right spirit. Note the shoe buckles. They are so me.
The featured image left: Narcissus (1594–1596) by Caravaggio. Right: Echo and Narcissus (1903) by John William Waterhouse, detail. In the centre – naturally – me with a found object in Riverside Park.
Josie..you are clever..but also very naughty. How to say what u really believe. “I am right”!
You are completely on target. You have seen through my disguise.
Now: The most important question is: Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or neither on your digestives?
OMG! It actually does rival Shakespeare very well! I was going to say ‘or parody’ but I think this goes rather beyond parody. In any case, the mock-hubris combined with the cleverness is altogether deliciously funny.
The credit has to go to the original model. But I’m happy you found it funny.
(Mind you – people like me have no sense of humour when it comes to seeing ourselves as others see us.)
Because inevitably they are wrong. Who knows you better than yourself…
Josie, I’m really glad you’ve joined the W3 community. “The nine dear Muses kneel outside my door” made me laugh — you commit to the bravado so brilliantly. So happy you’re here!!
Much love,
David
I love how you are so welcoming and supportive of everyone. I appreciate it and I am sure others do too.
Loved your plain and unvarnished truth about you, Josie. You are so full of wit and humor. Loved your take, and the photograph.
Thanks for the encouragement Indira. Shrinking violets need support too!
All the best to you.
Modest takes on a whole new meaning!😂. Great take on the prompt – love your end rhymes, (thunderbolts take birth/scornful birth) and the language.
It’s so hard to tell the truth these days. Why is that?
Methinks we need to return to a more complicated age and reject the simplicities of our current era.
Loved your sonnet and your preamble about the connection to the cat pronouns!
That’s cats for you!
Superlative, m’lady Josie. Tremendously so. Applause 👏🏽
Thank you . That’s more than generous.
I smiled all the way through this sonnet!! Marvelous, stupendous, worthy of all accolades!
At least nobody can accuse me of hiding my light under a bushel!
Haha!! Sometimes we are forced to toot our own horn especially when the world just can’t muster enough hot air!
Josie I adore this sonnet it made me smile so much and love your shoe taste too 🙌😃
I am so glad you admired my shoes. Such dainty ankles too, although I say so myself, as shouldn’t.
Brilliant Josie!
I knew you would be dazzled by my choice of footwear.
This is so brilliant, Josie! Bravo 👏 I love it!
I cannot let this evening go by
Without responding to your beauteous rhyme:
Although my wits are scarce enough to try
To praise those skills so far exceeding mine.
Occasionally I try to write a post
On politics and manners of today;
Only to find what I can say at most
Reflects banality in every way.
The self regarding ‘leaders’ of the state
Exploit all media in the public sphere:
Create a world we find we love to hate,
Addicted to the news by constant fear.
I think I’ll turn away from media vicious
And focus my attention on Narcissus.
That’s brilliant John. And more than modest. For real.
Your line “The self regarding ‘leaders’ of the state” had me thinking of Yvor Winter’s warning from the 1930s when he writes of “Fool and scoundrel rule the state.”
But that’s not in the right metre or form so back to the scribbling desk:
Your words, dear friend, have pierced me to the quick;
I haste to match your measured, beauteous rhyme,
Though wit deserts me, slow and lumpen-thick,
And bids me pause before I waste my time.
How apt to flee the clamor’s shrill assault
And seek the Narcis’ pool, where vain hearts gaze,
Self-love a flower in vanity’s default,
Its petals lush beneath reflected rays.
Our screens now forge that polished, hollow twin –
Curated selves we scroll, admire, befriend.
Each like and comment binds us to the sin
Of mirrored adoration without end.
So let us quit this font of false delight,
And in still silence find what he lost sight.
Cheers to you John!
Very droll indeed! Methinks you might be channeling a certain self-centered, narcissistic, vainglorious, conceited US President! (Though with wit that he doesn’t have).
That man? Pah!
Compared to me he is a mere pretender when it comes to vainglorious self-puffery. All hat and no trousers. A mere peacock – all plumage and no sizzle. An empty vessel as deep as a flying frisbee..
Hi Josie, love you sonnet, and your confidence! It’s inspiring, yes, you deserve it all. And the shoes, great! Red shoes, yes, pure confidence and joy!
There are times when proclaiming the truth matters. No more hiding under bushels. (Truth is – I am having second thoughts about the shoes. And the garters.)
You are too much. This is (of course) brilliant.
What a fun sonnet. It should become a national requirement to write a sonnet praising one’s virtues! Loved it.
Sometimes you just have to tell the plain unvarnished truth.
Cheers Carol!