Notes on Sonnet 73

Happy birthday Mr Shakespeare! This past Saturday marked Shakespeare’s 452nd birthday as well as 400 years since his death. Which was maybe not the kind of present he’d hoped for. I spent the big day enjoying a marvellous production of Pericles, that ingeniously placed the Prince of Tyre’s seafaring adventures in the context of tall tales in a portside tavern.

This coming Saturday also sees a more recent anniversary, as Zounds will be one year old. So to celebrate both occasions, here’s a picture of the Lady bursting out of a cake.

I also needed something for the anniversary Zounds itself. The birthday boy himself obviously had to star, and fortunately he’d provided the perfect material for a milestone day in this sonnet, in which he ponders his own eventful journey through the seven ages of man.

So many happy returns to dear old Will, and hearty thanks to everyone…