Synopsis
Selections of poetry on various themes, chosen by listeners. This episode contains Sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer's day) by William Shakespeare, Barbara Frietsche by John Greenleaf Whittier, Personal talk by William Wordsworth, The harper by Thomas Campbell and Hateful old age by Anon.
Adventures in Poetry | Shakespeare's Sonnet
Richard Wilson explores some of the hidden meanings and resonances of Shakespeare's famous and much loved sonnet, and asks: 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' Produced by Sara Davies.
Poetry Please | Sonnet 18 (2005)
Selections of poetry on various themes chosen by listeners. Celebrating the BBC's November Shakespeare season, Roger McGough introduces requests for verse by the Bard, including sonnets and excerpts from the plays. These include Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare read by Bonnie Hurren, Come we to the summer by John Clare read by Bill Wallis, The barrel-organ by Alfred Noyes read by David Collins, Watering the flowers by Vernon Scannell read by Bill Wallis, The glory of the garden by Rudyard Kipling read by Bill Wallis, Just in case by Charlotte Mitchell read by Bonnie Hurren, At Grass by Philip Larkin read by Bill Wallis, Fecundity by Ros Barber read by the poet, Strawberries by Edwin Morgan read by Bill Wallis, Going downhill on a bicycle by H. C. Beeching read by David Collins, Bicycles in summer by Elizabeth Jennings read by Bonnie Hurren, Adlestrop by Edward Thomas read by David Collins and Unrest by Ella Wheeler Wilcox read by Bonnie Hurren.