I will try to post an inspirational poem each week from a favorite poet. The first is one that I have admired since my first read in the 9th grade. Maybe I didn’t understand it as well as I do today and of course Shakespeare is a little over used with the world of poetry, but Fear No More is not one of his over-done poems. With the way the world is today, war, poverty and everything else the same as the day Shakespeare wrote this sonnet, I feel rereading it again makes me interpet the meaning differently. Is it about love or death?

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun;
Nor the furious winter’s rages,
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages;
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney sweepers come to dust.

Fear no more the frown of the great,
Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke:
Care no more to clothe and eat;
To thee the reed is as the oak:
The sceptre, learning, physic, must
All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning-flash,
Nor the all-dread thunder-stone;
Fear not slander, censure rash;
Thou hast finished joy and moan;
All lovers young, all lovers must
Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have;
And renowned be thy grave!