Poetry · Chapter
LX explained
The poet reflects on the relentless march of time, comparing minutes to waves that hasten to the shore.
What happens
The poet reflects on the relentless march of time, comparing minutes to waves that hasten to the shore. He describes how nativity crawls to maturity only to be besieged by eclipses, and how time destroys youth and beauty. Yet he asserts that his verse will endure through future ages, praising the beloved despite time's cruelty.
Themes in this chapter
Time and Mortality
The entire sonnet meditates on time's relentless advance, comparing minutes to waves and describing how time destroys youth and beauty, yet the poet's verse offers a defiant stand.
Art and Immortality
The poet claims his verse will stand 'to times in hope,' promising that his praise of the beloved will endure despite time's cruel hand.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore, So do our minutes hasten to their end;”
Just as waves rush toward the pebbly beach, so our minutes hurry toward their conclusion.
The opening simile establishes the central metaphor of time as an unstoppable, sequential force.
“Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,”
Time pierces the bloom of youth and carves wrinkles into the forehead of beauty.
Time is personified as an active destroyer of physical beauty and youthful vigor.
“And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand, Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.”
Nevertheless, my poetry will endure into future ages, praising your value, in spite of time's cruel actions.
The couplet asserts the immortalizing power of verse, a common theme in Shakespeare's sonnets.