Sonnet 12: When I Do Count The Clock That Tells The Time
When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silver’d o’er with white;
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow;
And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defence
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
Welcome, poetry enthusiasts, to a fascinating journey into one of William Shakespeare’s most profound sonnets, “Sonnet 12: When I Do Count The Clock That Tells The Time.” This poem is a brilliant exploration of time’s relentless march and the human desire to defy its destructive power. It invites us to ponder the fleeting nature of beauty and the enduring quest for legacy. Let us delve into its depths and uncover the timeless wisdom it holds.
Understanding Sonnet 12: When I Do Count The Clock That Tells The Time
Sonnet 12 stands as a powerful meditation on mortality and the passage of time. The speaker observes the inevitable decay in the natural world, drawing a direct connection to the beloved’s own eventual decline. This sonnet is part of Shakespeare’s “procreation sonnets,” a sequence where the speaker urges a young man to have children to preserve his beauty and legacy.
Sonnet 12 Summary: The Relentless March of Time
The central idea of Sonnet 12 revolves around the speaker’s profound realization of time’s destructive power over all things beautiful and living. This leads to a somber reflection on the beloved’s inevitable mortality and the ultimate solution to defy time’s victory.
- Observation of Decay: The poem begins with the speaker meticulously listing various examples of natural beauty and life succumbing to the passage of time. From the ticking clock to fading flowers and barren trees, every image underscores the theme of decay.
- Realization of Mortality: These observations serve as a stark reminder that if nature’s grandeur cannot escape time’s grasp, then human beauty, including that of the beloved, is equally vulnerable. The speaker questions how such beauty can possibly endure.
- The Central Question: The core dilemma presented is how to preserve beauty and life against the relentless forces of aging and death.
- The Solution: The final two lines, the couplet, offer the speaker’s proposed answer: procreation. By having children, the beloved can ensure that their beauty and essence live on, creating a legacy that bravely faces time’s ultimate claim.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 12
This sonnet unfolds as a series of observations, leading to a poignant question and a definitive answer. Let us explore how Shakespeare crafts this powerful argument.
The Speaker’s Somber Observations (Quatrain 1)
The poem opens with the speaker’s direct engagement with the passage of time, using everyday phenomena to illustrate its undeniable power.
When I do count the clock that tells the time,
And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;
When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silver’d o’er with white;
The ticking of the clock is the most fundamental measure of time, a constant reminder of its relentless progression. The transition from “brave day” to “hideous night” immediately introduces a sense of loss and decay. The once vibrant “violet past prime” symbolizes fading youth and beauty, while “sable curls all silver’d o’er with white” paints a vivid picture of aging, where dark hair turns grey. These images are universal, making the impact of time relatable to everyone.
Nature’s Cycle of Loss (Quatrain 2)
The second quatrain expands on these observations, drawing from the natural world and the cycle of seasons to further emphasize time’s destructive force.
When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,
Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,
And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves
Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,
Here, the speaker observes “lofty trees” that were once full of life, providing shade, now “barren of leaves.” This image of winter’s starkness reinforces the theme of loss. The powerful metaphor of “summer’s green all girded up in sheaves / Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard” is particularly striking. “Summer’s green,” representing the vibrancy of life and harvest, is depicted as being prepared for a funeral procession (“borne on the bier”). The “white and bristly beard” evokes the image of an old man, or perhaps the dried, bleached stalks of harvested grain, further linking the end of a season to the end of life.
The Inevitable Question (Quatrain 3)
Having established time’s universal destructive power through these vivid examples, the speaker turns directly to the beloved, posing a crucial question about their own mortality.
Then of thy beauty do I question make,
That thou among the wastes of time must go,
Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake
And die as fast as they see others grow;
The word “Then” marks a shift, connecting the preceding observations to a personal reflection on the beloved’s fate. The speaker acknowledges that the beloved’s beauty, like all other “sweets and beauties,” is destined to join “the wastes of time.” The poignant line “And die as fast as they see others grow” highlights the cyclical nature of life and death, where new generations emerge even as the old fade away. This quatrain underscores the inevitability of decay for all living things, including the beloved.
The Enduring Solution (The Couplet)
The final two lines of the sonnet provide the speaker’s powerful and direct answer to the dilemma of time’s destructive power.
And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defence
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
This couplet delivers the poem’s central argument. Time is personified as a grim reaper, wielding a “scythe,” an instrument of harvest and death, against which “nothing” can offer defense. The only exception, the speaker asserts, is “breed,” meaning to have children. Procreation is presented as the sole means to “brave him,” to stand defiantly against Time’s ultimate claim, ensuring that a part of the beloved lives on through their offspring. This solution offers a form of immortality, a legacy that transcends individual mortality.
Literary and Poetic Devices in Sonnet 12
Shakespeare masterfully employs various literary and poetic devices to convey the sonnet’s profound message about time and legacy, enhancing its beauty and impact.
- Imagery: The poem is rich with vivid sensory details that paint a clear picture of decay and the passage of time, allowing readers to visualize the speaker’s observations.
- Example: “brave day sunk in hideous night” evokes a visual contrast. “violet past prime” creates an image of fading beauty. “sable curls all silver’d o’er with white” vividly depicts aging hair. “lofty trees I see barren of leaves” brings to mind the starkness of winter. “summer’s green all girded up in sheaves / Borne on the bier” creates a powerful, somber scene of harvest and death.
- Metaphor: Implicit comparisons are used throughout the poem to deepen understanding and emotional resonance.
- Example: The “brave day sunk in hideous night” metaphorically compares the end of a day to death or the loss of vitality. The extended metaphor of “summer’s green all girded up in sheaves / Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard” compares the harvest of summer to a funeral procession for an old man, equating the end of a season with the end of life.
- Personification: Giving human qualities or actions to inanimate objects or abstract ideas is a key device in this sonnet.
- Example: “brave day” gives the day a human quality of courage. “sweets and beauties do themselves forsake” personifies beauty as having the agency to abandon itself. Most notably, “Time’s scythe” personifies Time as a grim reaper, an active, destructive force. The instruction to “brave him” further solidifies Time as an adversary.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain words or phrases.
- Example: “count the clock” draws attention to the act of measuring time. “sable curls all silver’d” highlights the visual transformation. “borne on the bier with white and bristly beard” creates a rhythmic and memorable phrase, emphasizing the imagery of death and age.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words helps to create internal rhythm and flow.
- Example: “hideous night” with the repeated long ‘i’ sound. “violet past prime” also uses the long ‘i’ sound.
- Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines is used effectively to build a sense of accumulation and emphasize the speaker’s observations.
- Example: The repeated “When I do count,” “When I behold,” and “When lofty trees I see” at the beginning of the first two quatrains creates a powerful, cumulative effect, listing the many ways time manifests its power.
- Rhyme Scheme: The sonnet follows the traditional Shakespearean rhyme scheme, which provides structural cohesion and musicality.
- Explanation: The pattern is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This consistent rhyme scheme helps to organize the speaker’s thoughts and arguments into distinct quatrains and a concluding couplet.
- Iambic Pentameter: Each line of the sonnet typically adheres to this rhythmic pattern, contributing to its natural, conversational flow.
- Explanation: Each line generally consists of ten syllables, alternating unstressed and stressed beats (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). This rhythm mimics natural speech, making the profound ideas accessible and engaging.
- Couplet: The final two lines of the sonnet serve a crucial function, often providing a powerful resolution, summary, or a turning point in the poem’s argument.
- Explanation: In Sonnet 12, the concluding couplet delivers the poem’s core message and solution, presenting procreation as the only defense against the passage of time, thus offering a definitive answer to the questions raised in the preceding lines.
Conclusion: The Enduring Message of Sonnet 12
Sonnet 12 is a masterful exploration of one of humanity’s oldest anxieties: the relentless march of time and the inevitability of decay. Through vivid imagery and profound observations of the natural world, Shakespeare builds a compelling argument for the preservation of beauty and legacy. The poem’s ultimate message, that “breed” or having children is the only way to “brave” Time’s destructive power, offers a timeless perspective on the human desire for immortality. It reminds us that while individual life is fleeting, the continuation of life through future generations provides a powerful and enduring legacy against the backdrop of an ever-changing world.