"As a Decrepit Father Takes Delight" by William Shakespeare

 

As a Decrepit Father Takes Delight

As a decrepit father takes delight

To see his active child do deeds of youth,

So I, made lame by Fortune's dearest spite,

Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.

For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,

Or any of these all, or all, or more,

Entitled in thy parts, do crowned sit,

I make my love engrafted to this store.

So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,

Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give

That I in thy abundance am sufficed

And by a part of all thy glory live.

Look what is best, that best I wish in thee.

This wish I have; then ten times happy me!

Enjoy the poem with beautiful music

Poem Video👇

https://youtu.be/WLDiXjNESwU

Who wrote the poem "As a Decrepit Father Takes Delight"?

William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616)

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor of the Renaissance era. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon." Few public records remain about his private life, causing speculations about his physical appearances, sexuality, religious beliefs and the authorship of some of his works. His works demonstrate a wide range of human emotions and conflicts, touching so many people's minds throughout the world for over 400 years.

"As a Decrepit Father Takes Delight" explanation

In the poem, the speaker celebrates youth, beauty, and the possibilities of the future of a young man as if he was the young man’s old father. The speaker wishes all the luck and happiness to the young man because then he will experience vicarious joy through the young man.