The Classic Theatre

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#33

Synopsis:

The poet describes the sun first in its glory and then after its being covered with dark clouds; this change resembles his relationship with the beloved, who is now “masked” from him. But if even the sun can be darkened, he writes, it is no wonder that earthly beings sometimes fail to remain bright and unstained. (This is t...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#32

Synopsis:

The poet imagines his poems being read and judged by his beloved after the poet’s death, and he asks that the poems, though not as excellent as those written by later writers, be kept and enjoyed because of the love expressed in them.

 

If thou survive my well-contented day

When that churl Death my bones with dust ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#31

Synopsis:

The poet sees the many friends now lost to him as contained in his beloved. Thus, the love he once gave to his lost friends is now given wholly to the beloved.

 

Thy bosom is endearèd with all hearts

Which I by lacking have supposèd dead,

And there reigns love and all love’s loving parts,

And all those friends...

#30

Synopsis:

The poet pictures his moments of serious reflection as a court session in which his memories are summoned to appear. As they come forward, he grieves for all that he has lost, but he then thinks of his beloved friend and the grief changes to joy.

 

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought

I summon up remembrance of things past,

I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,

And with old woes new wail my dear time’...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#29

Synopsis:

The poet, dejected by his low status, remembers his friend’s love, and is thereby lifted into joy.

 

When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Fe...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#28

Synopsis:

Continuing the thought of s. 27, the poet claims that day and night conspire to torment him. Though he has flattered both day and night by comparing them to beautiful qualities of his beloved, day continues to exhaust him and night to distress him.

 

How can I then return in happy plight

That am debarred the benefi...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#27

Synopsis:

In this first of two linked sonnets, the poet complains that the night, which should be a time of rest, is instead a time of continuing toil as, in his imagination, he struggles to reach his beloved.

 

Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,

The dear repose for limbs with travel tired,

But then begins a journey in m...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#26

Synopsis:

The poet, assuming the role of a vassal owing feudal allegiance, offers his poems as a token of duty, apologizing for their lack of literary worth. He begs his liege lord to protect this expression of his duty until fortune allows him to boast openly of his love.

 

Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage

Thy merit ha...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#25

Synopsis:

The poet contrasts himself with those who seem more fortunate than he. Their titles and honors, he says, though great, are subject to whim and accident, while his greatest blessing, his love, will not change.

 

Let those who are in favor with their stars

Of public honor and proud titles boast,

Whilst I, whom fortun...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609.  #24 Synopsis: This sonnet elaborates the metaphor of carrying the beloved’s picture in one’s heart. The poet claims that his eyes have painted on his heart a picture of the beloved. The poet’s body is both the picture’s frame and the shop where it is displayed. His only regret is that eyes paint only what they see, and they cannot see ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#23

Synopsis:

The poet blames his inability to speak his love on his lack of self-confidence and his too-powerful emotions, and he begs his beloved to find that love expressed in his writings.

 

As an unperfect actor on the stage

Who with his fear is put beside his part,

Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,

Whose str...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#22

Synopsis:

This sonnet plays with the poetic idea of love as an exchange of hearts. The poet urges the young man to take care of himself, since his breast carries the poet’s heart; and the poet promises the same care of the young man’s heart, which, the poet reminds him, has been given to the poet “not to give back again.”

 

...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#21

Synopsis:

The poet contrasts himself with poets who compare those they love to such rarities as the sun, the stars, or April flowers. His poetry will, he writes, show his beloved as a beautiful mortal instead of using the exaggerated terms of an advertisement.

 

So is it not with me as with that muse

Stirred by a painted bea...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#20

Synopsis:

The poet fantasizes that the young man’s beauty is the result of Nature’s changing her mind: she began to create a beautiful woman, fell in love with her own creation, and turned it into a man. The poet, thus deprived of a female sexual partner, concedes that it is women who will receive pleasure and progeny from the yo...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#19

Synopsis:

The “war with Time” announced in Sonnet 15 is here engaged in earnest as the poet, allowing Time its usual predations, forbids it to attack the young man. Should this command fail to be effective, however, the poet claims that the young man will in any case remain always young in the poet’s verse.

 

Devouring Time, blunt t...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#18

Synopsis:

In a radical departure from the previous sonnets, the young man’s beauty, here more perfect even than a day in summer, is not threatened by Time or Death, since he will live in perfection forever in the poet’s verses.

 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do ...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #17 Synopsis: As further argument against mere poetic immortality, the poet insists that if his verse displays the young man’s qualities in their true splendor, later ages will assume that the poems are lies. However, if the young man leaves behind a child, he will remain doubly alive—in verse and in his offspring.   Who will believe my...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #16 Synopsis: Continuing the thought of s. 15, the poet argues that procreation is a “mightier way” than poetry for the young man to stay alive, since the poet’s pen cannot present him as a living being.   But wherefore do not you a mightier way Make war upon this bloody tyrant Time, And fortify yourself in your decay With means more bl...

A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. #15 Synopsis: In the first of two linked sonnets, the poet once again examines the evidence that beauty and splendor exist only for a moment before they are destroyed by Time. Here the poet suggests—through wordplay on engraft—that the young man can be kept alive not only through procreation but also in the poet’s verse.   When I consid...