Because out of all the profound things Kelly Fineman has pointed out…

…this one made me nearly dance in my living room with the thrill of discovery

Brush Up Your Shakespeare Month Contest with  

I never would’ve figured out on my own that this particular dialogue from Romeo and Juliet was in fact a Shakespearean sonnet. I’ll let Kelly explain the pattern’s unique features here. Read the sonnet, then check out Zeffirelli’s interpretation here, then swing back to Kelly’s blog here so you can enter the contest too!

Romeo
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

Juliet
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

Romeo
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

Juliet
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

Romeo
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Juliet
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

Romeo
Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.

Juliet
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo
Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.

Juliet
                You kiss by the book.