My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.
I imagine I am missing my teaching days a little. The shower this weekend was for a girlfriend whom I taught with a long time ago. I miss being around English teachers...not so much the students....but I truly miss talking at length about poetry and metaphor and what book to read at book club.
I think I can have some fun and get my poetry fix by relating some of my favorite poems to some of my favorite rooms.
(note: I had major formatting issues with this post. There is a ton of white space in-between pics..please just keep scanning. Sorry.)
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
(gotta take it down in couplets)
So Shakespeare, I imagine, is taking at stab at his contemporary poets who seem to always compare his or her lover to such obvious & ordinary objects (i.e., the sun, coral, etc.) His lover is not a standard beauty.
Take, for instance, this oyster-shell chandelier. Would not most poets find the pearl to be the thing of beauty? Shakespeare (or the speaker) would most likely prefer its container to the real thing.
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
You remember during the Renaissance that it was a sign of beauty to have skin untouched by the sun. To be fair in lieu of tan meant you had money and servants to do your work outdoors.
The poet's lover's "breasts are dun"....not white or fair. She has dark, coarse hair. He still loves her.
This room (via Skona Hem) is beautiful to me, though, I imagine not all will agree with me.
I have seen roses damasked; red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
Obviously, her cheeks are not rosy. Perhaps she is old? I see so much beauty in the image above. The older, vertically planked boards and the simple frames with family photographs are not conventionally beautiful... but I am sure the homeowner adores these images. I love their placement, too.
And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
His lover does not have the best breath.... And I am sure not everyone loves Sibella Court's sense of style (above)
But I love.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
No, his lover's voice is not soft and lovely like music.... And this bathroom from the Junk Gypsies from Cottage Living magazine (I think for Miranda Lambert's Airstream if I remember correctly) might be borderline tacky...but I still find it appealing.
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
The poet's lover is not light like a goddess....she is heavy and notlight on her feet. Maybe she looks a little like the farm animals on my placemats or me after that blueberry tart last night.
(sidenote: I got those placemats from South of Market ..they are having a killer giveaway on their blog)
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Yet, even though my lover is not your typical beauty, she is the most amazing to me.
This makes me think of Lauren Leiss and her faux bois lamp. I am sure she knows not everyone may see its beauty, but she loves it and it is perfect for this room....
so rare and unusual can equal beautiful.
Have a beautiful Thursday! I am planning to attend CB2's opening in Atlanta tonight. If I make it (fingers crossed) I'll post pics!
Julie
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