Under the greenwood tree

William Shakespeare has been giving pleasure through his plays and sonnets for five hundred years- it's amazing.Little is known about him and I have covered that in earlier posts.We do know that he lived in England and although lots of things have changed since he wrote such inspiring words, some things haven't. The pleasure to be found when falling in love, being near the one you love, the feeling of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. The joy to be found in the English countryside .He accompanied us through our school years like generations before us and those to come. Here was someone that understood us, all those teenage yearnings. Who couldn't relate to the anguish Romeo and Juliet felt when they had to part ?Of course we made fun of him too, men leaping about in tights and singing 'hey nonni no' and saying things like forsooth.  So in these first days of Autumn when the sun is still warm enough to lie down in a leafy wood before the winter comes I really like these verses by William Shakespeare.

Under the Greenwood Tree

Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me,

And turn his merry note

Unto the sweet bird's throat -

Come hither, come hither, come hither!

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.

Who doth ambition shun

And loves to live i' the sun

Seeking the food he eats

And pleased with what he gets-

Come hither, come hither, come hither!

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.