Shakespeare Sonnet No. 10

{Callie's Version}

For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thyself art so unprovident.
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lov’st is most evident.
For thou art so possessed with murd’rous hate
That ’gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire,
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
O, change thy thought, that I may change my mind.
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove.
 Make thee another self for love of me,
 That beauty still may live in thine or thee.

-William Shakespeare

For shame that I've not a sonnet to bear.
The thought makes me wilt. Granted I'm being
dramatic. 'Tis who I am. Don't stare.
Or, go 'head. Possessed not by hate you see;
by passion, for writing is not a hobby.
It's passion that makes me sit in silence
waiting to use a word, say, like "knobby."
This is the drama I cling to. Endurance
is vital. Like that of a swimmer, who
waits to hear, "Step up," and, "Take your mark."
Ready and willing and knowing it's through
trying that she learns love lodged in the dark
releases itself not when one wins but
when one wants to try - no matter the cut.