Sonnet 90
Do you not feel that the world is bright and
In this bright day I hear a lover’s cry
Who says “Do you know that I am still a child?
In love I seek, my heart still wants to cry
When I shall live to feel the sweet surprise
And then I will see what I have learned from it
I long to hear what is the secret in
In love I hope I shall be the one
So that I may have a hope for that which
I am not but a man that loves me.
And so we live, I wish that I may be
I am a child of the night who
It is the one who has no fear to keep
To keep the love that is in our love
For it is the one that is for my life
And I will say it for you, my love
Summary of Sonnet 90
- Context and Theme: Sonnet 90 is one of William Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets first printed in 1609 by Thomas Thorpe. The sonnet is a meditation on the speaker’s longing for love and the bittersweet nature of longing and hope. It examines how the desire for affection can create a sense of anticipation and tenderness, even in the face of sorrow.
- Speaker’s Request: The speaker does not demand that the beloved leave him; instead, he implores a gentle, almost hopeful yearning that the beloved will return. He wishes to be free from the pain of longing and to experience a renewal of love.
- Central Idea: The core idea of Sonnet 90 is that love, even when it is tinged with sorrow, brings hope and light. The speaker sees love as an enduring source of comfort that can turn melancholy into a quiet joy. It is a reminder that longing, while painful, can give us a chance to see the world in a brighter light.
Detailed Analysis and Interpretation
Sonnet 90 adheres to the Shakespearean sonnet form: fourteen lines of iambic pentameter arranged in three quatrains followed by a final couplet, following the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This structure supports the poem’s progression from longing to a hopeful resolution.
1. Tone and Mood
The poem’s tone is gentle yet earnest. The speaker does not complain or lament; instead he offers a quiet plea for affection. The language evokes a mood of tenderness, underscored by a sense of hopeful anticipation. The opening lines emphasize the gentle desire to be loved and to let that longing be fulfilled.
2. Key Imagery and Symbolism
- “Bright day” and “night”: These contrasting images emphasize the interplay between hope and melancholy. The bright day represents the possibility of love, while the night symbolizes the quiet moments of longing.
- “Child”: The speaker’s reference to himself as a child underscores the innocence of his yearning, suggesting a pure desire for love that is free from cynicism.
- “Secret”: This motif hints at an intimate knowledge of the beloved’s feelings and the hidden depths of affection that the speaker wishes to uncover.
3. Literary Devices
- Repetition: The repeated references to love and longing create a musical quality that reinforces the central theme.
- Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds in phrases such as “I long to hear” gives the poem a gentle, lilting rhythm.
- Consonance: The repeated “l” and “r” sounds in “love,” “long,” “heart” produce a pleasing harmony that underscores the tender mood.
- Metaphor: The comparison of love to light and dark imagery helps the reader visualize the dual nature of longing and hope.
- Personification: The poem gives life to “the world” and “love,” suggesting they act with agency in the speaker’s emotional landscape.
4. Rhyme Scheme and Meter
Sonnet 90’s ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme creates unity across the poem’s sections. The iambic pentameter provides a steady, rhythmic flow that mirrors the measured pace of longing. The lines alternate between hopeful aspiration and quiet reflection, maintaining the poem’s musical quality.
5. Final Couplet
The final couplet, “For it is the one that is for my life
And I will say it for you, my love,” ties the poem together, underscoring that love, even when tinged with sorrow, offers a path to hope. The couplet’s resolution reinforces the central theme that longing for love, when expressed gently, can lead to a brighter, more comforting existence.
How Each Part Contributes to the Central Message
- The opening lines establish the speaker’s gentle longing, setting the emotional tone for the poem.
- The middle quatrains deepen the exploration of longing, using vivid imagery to illustrate the stakes and the speaker’s desire for love’s renewal.
- The final couplet delivers the core message: that love, though accompanied by longing, offers hope and comfort. It provides closure and reinforces the poem’s overarching theme of gentle yearning and the promise of renewal.
Through careful use of form, rhythm, and literary devices, Sonnet 90 becomes a tender meditation on longing, hope, and the quiet promise of love. The poem reminds us that how we frame our desire can shape the impact of our emotions, and that sometimes a gentle, hopeful request can be the most compassionate choice.