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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONNET: 12 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: WHEN I DO COUNT THE CLOCK THAT TELLS THE TIME
Last Line: SAVE BREED, TO BRAVE HIM WHEN HE TAKES THEE HENCE.
Subject(s): AGING; HOLIDAYS; NEW YEAR; TIME;
When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silvered o'er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer's green all girded up in sheaves,
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of 'time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake,
And die as fast as they see others grow;
And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence,
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.


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