Monday's Poetry: "Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator


The following short poem by William Shakespeare deftly compares the coldness of weather with the insensitivity of mankind.  It may be cold outside, and in the Midwest today is is dangerously cold, but the awfulness of the weather does not have to be further complicated by our coldness toward one another.

Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind is from Shakespeare's play, As You Like It.

To my friends back home:  Stay inside by the fire.  This, too, shall pass.


Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
by William Shakespeare

Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship if feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As a friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.