Shakespeare Sonnet 12

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 silver'd 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.

Sonnet #12 by William Shakespeare is a peom in which a hard realization is made. It is the realization of human mortality. "And see the brave day sunk in hideous night" This quote seemingly tells the reader that with time everything will eventually end, just as day turns to night (2). It tells of the very natural presence of decay by comparing it with humans and the environment. "And Sable curls all silvered o'er with white... Then of thy beauty do I question make" (4-9). This passage refers to the fragility of man and how, as time ravages our bodies we can never stay beautiful forever. The ending lines seem to effectivly synthesize the poem for the reader, "And nothing 'gainst Time's scyth can make defence...Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence" (13-14). The meaning seems to be that time cannot be stopped, but one's legacy can be carried on through the creation of children.

The sonnet seems to have a bit of a bittersweet aura about it. On one hand Shakespeare is elaborating on the mortality of man as well as his beauty and is saying that nothing can stay forever. But on the other hand he is telling the truth and wishes that people embrace death and create a future. In my opinion Shakespears ultimate message was very frank, and he wanted that message to be looked on frankly.