Shakespeare Sonnet Commentary

Sonnet 12:
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 silvered 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 defense
Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence.

I feel like this sonnet depicts time as an ultimately powerful weapon. Something that nothing can beat. It stands through anything and can be the downfall of the most powerful things. Time turns hair gray, and takes the leaves away from the trees. It questions beauty and can change and alter it. Things that were once beatiful can be changed because of time. Nothing can go against time. But you can breed and it makes time feel a lot longer, and ultimately helps you in getting old.