Alison Mason

Gardner

English 10, Period

17 September, 2014

Alison’s Analysis:

In Shakespeare’s Sonnet 27, the subject deals with the lasting dilemma of being separated

from his youthful lover: Shakespeare uses loving imagery and soothing diction to express

the feelings of lost, distant love. The sonnet begins with the subject retiring to bed and

falling asleep. “To work my mind, when body’s work’s expired” conveys the idea that the

man is entering the state of dreams. Even though he is not physically working, his head

and mind are going through a great deal of thoughts and visions. The main image the man

sees in his dreams at night is the face of his lover, who brightens his dreams. “Makes

black night beauteous, and her old face new.” The man sees his lover at night during his

dreams; he sees her face from back to when he last saw her. She was a great deal younger

back when they last saw each other so that is why it is portrayed as young. He could also

choose to imagine her as young because it was a happier, brighter time back then. We

confirm that the man takes a mental journey to see his lover through the line, “ intend a

zealous pilgrimage to thee.” The word choice zealous indicates that he wants to take the

journey and we know that it is to his lover because he refers to her as thee. Throughout

the sonnet, he references her and her “old new face” which confirms who this sonnet was

about and what Shakespeare was thinking about at the time of writing it. In the end, the

subject and his love are still faced with the complication of being apart. Though their love

was strong, seeing a person in dreams is not nearly as satisfying as being with them in

person. Lost, distant love is something that everyone faces and Shakespeare captured the

emotions with it perfectly.

Lasting Love

Day after day, I wander through the halls,

Tired of wanting and waiting for change.

For a love like ours was not short but tall,

Life without you has been nothing but strange.

My life has become a steady routine,

Each day I retire to my warm bed.

My heart’s so cold and a frown is between

lips that long to respond to things you said.

You may be gone but you are here in my dreams.

A dark paradise that lightens my soul.

Once you are gone my head is full of schemes,

But I know one day there’ll be no hole.

For we are only an ocean away,

And the love we had will be one to stay.