Write Your Own Romeo & Juliet Shakespearean Sonnet
Write a sonnet about Romeo and Juliet? No problem, if you’ve got a few hours on your hands (and you’ve been writing in form since you were twelve years old). The result will be “Juliet’s Aubade.”
Of course, I’m not sure where that leaves the rest of us. But reading a lot of Shakespeare sonnets before you try your hand definitely helps. It puts the rhythms and the style deep into your mind.
Juliet’s Aubade
There is but one night left before you go
and swiftly step long hours until the dawn
with kisses pressed between us, frantic, slow
as if to rid our world of what’s beyond
the measured pacing of our twinnéd hearts
which dance in time to whispered song and slip
within our coffers; there to land athwart
as though the endless sea upon a ship
did spill its riches, drowning kings and all
earthly things that men may seek possession
of—baubles, toys, impressions alike fall
to sea’s unyielding grip without exception,
and we are water; endless; as the sea—
when pulled away, return always to me.
How about you? Do you write sonnets? What are your sonnet-writing tricks? (We’re looking at you, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell!)
Photo by Devin, Creative Commons, via Flickr.
Browse more sonnets
Browse Shakespeare resources
How to Write a Sonnet Infographic
Check out The Teacher Diaries: Romeo & Juliet
Check out the humorously annotated Romeo & Juliet play
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Maureen Doallas says
Excellent!
Marcy says
Stunning! I love the way it flows.
Laurie Flanigan says
Nice!
Grace Marcella Brodhurst-Davis says
Lovely! This: “…and we are water; endless; as the sea—
when pulled away, return always to me.” 🙂
KM kirkpatrick says
I shall whisper all you need to know:
Although my days are marked by hours,
I would watch you breathe, forevermore…
To hold your Heart, as Heaven’s flowers.
Do I love you… how do I love you?
A thousand times, Yes… ten thousand more…
Like a diamond in my sands of time,
A pearl of great price on my untouched shore.
You are so very fine to me…
Your face, the grace I want to see…
As rivers wind to their open sea…
Your starlight soul embraces me…
To find and hide away with you.
In the places only I have known,
along magnetic, true North’s unwind,
Onto shores on which you always were…
Sparkling there for me to find.
For this, my love, I lay tribute to…
This celestial, constant so ever true…
That your face for me, launched a thousand words…
And with each one… have I loved you.
Your answer is Yes…
My soul lays undressed…
In the beating of your heart, it rests…
Oh Yes…. I do love you.
KM kirkpatrick says
Wonderful and intricate sonnet form, Sarah.
I enjoy writing in all forms, on all the things that move the human experience along. My latest sample of Essay, Poetry and Creative Imagery is available for anyone’s reading pleasure and comment at: https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1159888
Richard Maxson says
Juliet’s Aubade, Marvelous! There are so many things in life for which to look forward. Sara Barkat’s poetry books are surely among them. Sara, you are blessed with wellspring and talent.
Donna says
Stunningly beautiful – and, like Richard, I found myself anticipating more from Sara.
Such powerful young love conveyed here.
That last line… oh. So beautiful.
Karen Mae Zoccoli says
I so enjoyed reading these, they are beautifully written and lovely to read! I have never written a sonnet so I gave it a very (humble) try.
I came upon this hollowed place one day,
while searching for some safe and gentler place,
to hang these robes of restless disarray,
I didn’t know of such a fine lit space;
Gentle arms lulled and pulled me blindly in,
deeper than skin about this body’s line,
deeper than thoughts or words of love or sin,
deeper than anywhere I’ve known as mine;
My breath than proved a truer, wiser friend,
diving forth in waters of ever more,
forging paths by its gentle flowing bend,
a river enlightening my very core;
Its depth captured every part of me–
wrapping my soul in its sweet ecstasy
KM kirkpatrick says
Karen, your humble try, is very nicely done – from “My breath…” onward, it really takes you in.