Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare | Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore | Sonnet 60 | William Shakespeare | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
Sonnet 60
Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore
Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Nativity, once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,
Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.
Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare: YouTube Link
Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare Analysis
Line 1: Like as the waves make towards the pebbl’d shore,
Explanation: The speaker begins by comparing the relentless march of time to the waves crashing against the shore. Each wave, like each moment, rushes forward, only to be replaced by the next.
Line 2: So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Explanation: The speaker extends the metaphor to human life, suggesting that our lives are made up of fleeting moments that quickly pass away.
Line 3: Each changing place with that which goes before,
Explanation: The speaker emphasizes the continuous nature of time, as each moment takes the place of the one that came before it.
Line 4: In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Explanation: The speaker uses the word “toil” to suggest that the passage of time is a relentless and exhausting process.
Line 5: Nativity, once in the main of light,
Explanation: The speaker shifts focus to the human life cycle, beginning with birth. He uses the phrase “main of light” to suggest the brightness and promise of new life.
Line 6: Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Explanation: The speaker describes the journey from infancy to adulthood, using the word “crawls” to suggest the slow and steady process of growth.
Line 7: Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,
Explanation: The speaker introduces the theme of aging, using the metaphor of eclipses to suggest the dark shadow that old age casts over youth.
Line 8: And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Explanation: The speaker personifies time as a giver who eventually takes back his gift of youth and beauty.
Line 9: Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
Explanation: The speaker describes the destructive effects of time on youth, using the word “transfix” to suggest a piercing or wounding.
Line 10: And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,
Explanation: The speaker continues to describe the physical effects of aging, mentioning wrinkles as a sign of beauty’s decline.
Line 11: Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,
Explanation: The speaker personifies time as a predator, consuming all that is beautiful and natural.
Line 12: And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
Explanation: The speaker uses the image of a scythe to reinforce the destructive power of time, suggesting that nothing can escape its grasp.
Line 13: And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Explanation: The speaker introduces a note of hope, suggesting that his poetry may endure even as he is consumed by time.
Line 14: Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.
Explanation: The speaker concludes the poem by reaffirming his love and admiration for his beloved, suggesting that his poetry will serve as a lasting tribute to their beauty.
