Sonnet 29: When, In Disgrace With Fortune And Men’s Eyes
Written By William Shakespeare
When, In Disgrace With Fortune And Men’s Eyes is an octave published in 1609. In the sonnet, the speaker is seen to be depressed because of social ostracism “my outcast state” and his misfortune “curse my fate”. The speaker also expresses his jealousy for the rich as he said “rich in hope” and “with friends possess’d”. The sonnet ends with a couplet as usual. Sonnet 29 rules away most traditional sonnets because of its different in structure.
Poem
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Poet Nazir is a writer and an editor here on ThePoetsHub. Outside this space, he works as a poet, screenwriter, author, relationship adviser and a reader. He is also the founder & lead director of PNSP Studios, a film production firm.
