In the four hundred years since Shakespeare's death, the Sonnets have invited imitation, homage, critique, parody and pastiche. These new poems probe our relationship to the Sonnets' intricate form and ambitious scope, their investigation of sexuality, wit, memory and poetic survival. These sonnets and longer lyrics explore what it means to write 'on Shakespeare's Sonnets' in the 21st century.Published in association with the Royal Society of Literature contributing poets include: Andrew Motion, Carol Ann Duffy, Gillian Clarke, Paul Muldoon, Ruth Padel, Simon Armitage, Roger McGough and Jo Shapcott.

Includes a preface by Colin Thubron

ForewordPrefaceAcknowledgementsWhat poverty my Muse brings forth;Roger McGoughSonnet 1; William ShakespeareSenex on Market Street; Douglas DunnSonnet 11; William ShakespeareThirty-Five; Jackie KaySonnet 12; William ShakespeareRhapsodies; Andrew MotionSonnet 15; William ShakespeareSonnet 15: A Graft; Paul MuldoonSonnet 18; William ShakespeareDream; P. J. KavanaghSonnet 20; William ShakespeareDi-Di-Dah-Dah-Di-Dit; Simon ArmitageSonnet 22; William ShakespeareSonnet; Wendy CopeSonnet 33; William ShakespeareHearing Voices; Mimi KhalvatiSonnet 35; William ShakespearePeacemaker; Michael Symmons RobertsSonnet 36; William ShakespeareTwo; Don PattersonSonnet 38; William ShakespeareAfter Sonnet 38; Nick LairdSonnet 43; William ShakespeareThe Trick; Imtiaz DharkerSonnet 49; William ShakespeareAt the Halle; Bernard O'DonoghueSonnet 55; William ShakespeareThe Sonnets; Michael LongleySonnet 60; William ShakespeareTime's Fool; Kevin Crossley-HollandYour Life as a Wave; Ruth PadelSonnet 65; William ShakespeareStorm, Nissaki; Robin RobertsonTwo Sonnets; Alan BrownjohnSonnet 71; William ShakespeareStill Life; John BurnsideSonnet 73; William Shakespeare73 Shakespeare Close; David Harsent2014/2015; Jo ShapcottSonnet 80; William ShakespeareSalvage; Alan JenkinsSonnet 94; William ShakespeareThree Views of a Secret; Sean O'BrienSonnet 99; William ShakespeareGentian Violet; Paul FarleySonnet 116; William ShakespeareMagnetism; Gillian ClarkeCXVI; Carol Ann DuffyBetrayal; Elaine FeinsteinSonnet 143; William ShakespeareDrowned Man; Fiona SampsonW.S.: The Tithon Sonnets; John FullerList of Contributors and Notes to PoemsIndex of PoetsIndex of First Lines