Shakespeare's Sonnets: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore

Shakespeare's Sonnets: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore

Sonnet 60

1Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
2So do our minutes hasten to their end,
3Each changing place with that which goes before,
4In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
5Nativity, once in the main of light,
6Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,
7Crookèd eclipses 'gainst his glory fight,
8And time that gave doth now his gift confound.
9Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
10And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,
11Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,
12And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow.
13    And yet to times in hope, my verse shall stand
14    Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.

Notes

1] towards] apparently monosyllabic. pebbled] pibled Q. Lines 1-4 are sometimes thought to imitate Ovid's Metamorphoses, XV: 180-84. Back to Line
2] minutes] Sonnet no. 60 refers here to a quantity of time measured in 60s. Back to Line
4] sequent] successive. contend] fight. Back to Line
5] main] broad expanse (like the sea). Back to Line
7] Crookèd] deformed. Back to Line
9] transfix] impale. flourish] bloom. Back to Line
11] of nature's truth] created by nature when it is most faithful to itself. Back to Line
13] times in hope] hoped-for, future times. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1609
Publication Notes
SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS (London: G. Eld for T. T. and sold by William Aspley, 1609): e1r-e1v.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2008
Rhyme
ababcdcdefefgg
Form
sonnet