Spring

Let's focus on a sonnet by Shakespeare--one that's quite accessible while being beautiful. You can read more of them here. When reading sonnets it's important to remember that they often have backwards speech, in a sense. They are not constructed like regular sentences, so wait for the end of lines or the next few to grasp what it all means. If you're ready and waiting to keep this approach in mind, they are much easier to enjoy and understand.

XCVIII

From you have I been absent in the spring,
When proud-pied April, dress'd in all his trim,
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing,
That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him.
Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smell
Of different flowers in odour and in hue,
Could make me any summer's story tell,
Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:
Nor did I wonder at the lily's white,
Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;
They were but sweet, but figures of delight,
Drawn after you, you pattern of all those.
     Yet seem'd it winter still, and you away,
     As with your shadow I with these did play.