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Shakespeare's Sonnets: O thou my lovely boy, who in thy pow'r

Sonnet 126
Shakespeare, William
1O thou my lovely boy, who in thy pow'r
2Dost hold time's fickle glass, his fickle hour,
3Who hast by waning grown, and therein show'st,
4Thy lover's with'ring, as thy sweet self grow'st,
5If nature (sov'reign mistress over wrack)
6As thou go'st onwards still will pluck thee back,
7She keeps thee to this purpose, that her skill
8May time disgrace, and wretched minute kill.
9Yet fear her, O thou minion of her pleasure,
10She may detain but not still keep her treasure!
11Her audit (though delay'd) answer'd must be,
12And her quietus is to render thee.

Notes

1] This 12-line poem has six couplets and is not in traditional sonnet form. Back to Line
2] Dost] Doest Q. glass] mirror. fickle hour] Duncan-Jones reads "sickle, hower" in the Q. Back to Line
5] sov'reign] soueraine Q. wrack] destruction. Back to Line
6] go'st: goest Q. Back to Line
9] minion] favorite. Extrametrical, with line 12. Back to Line
11] audit] settlement of accounts. Back to Line
12] quietus] discharge of obligation. render] hand over. Back to Line