# Sonnet 15 explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker describes his restless anticipation for dawn, listening to Philomela's song while longing for his beloved. He experiences a mix of sorrow and solace as he is told to return tomorrow, and he laments how time drags when he is apart from her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Time and Mortality

The speaker's perception of time is distorted by longing; minutes feel like moons, and night drags on when separated from the beloved.

### Love and Desire

The speaker's intense desire for his beloved is expressed through his restless waiting and the emotional turmoil of hope mixed with sorrow.

## Character check-ins

### Philomela

The speaker listens to Philomela's song while waiting for dawn.

## Key lines

> Lord, how mine eyes throw gazes to the east!

Oh, how my eyes keep looking toward the east for the sunrise.

_The speaker expresses his eager anticipation for dawn._

> Sorrow changed to solace, solace mix’d with sorrow;

My sadness turns to comfort, but comfort is mixed with sadness.

_The speaker's emotions are conflicted between hope and disappointment._

> Were I with her, the night would post too soon; But now are minutes added to the hours;

If I were with her, the night would pass quickly; but now each minute feels like an hour.

_Time feels slow and burdensome when separated from the beloved._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters