line-by-line English explanation of Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare

 line-by-line English explanation of Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare 

1. That time of year thou mayst in me behold

→ The poet says that his beloved can see in him a time of year — that is, he compares his stage of life to a certain season.

Explanation: The speaker tells his beloved that his present age resembles a particular time of year, suggesting that he is in the late season of his life — nearing its end, just as autumn nears winter.

2. When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

→ It is a time when only a few yellow leaves remain on the trees; most have already fallen.

Explanation: This line symbolizes old age — the speaker’s youthful strength and vitality have mostly faded, just as trees lose their leaves in autumn.

3. Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

→ The bare branches shake in the cold wind.

Explanation: The speaker feels weak and fragile, like trembling branches facing the cold. It represents the weakness and loneliness of old age.

4. Bare ruin’d choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

→ The empty branches look like ruined church choirs where birds once sang sweetly.

Explanation: Earlier, his life was full of joy, song, and beauty — now it is silent and lifeless. This image powerfully suggests the loss that comes with aging.

5. In me thou see’st the twilight of such day

→ The beloved can see in him the twilight time of a day.

Explanation: His life is like evening — the day (or his youth) is ending, and darkness (or death) is near.

6. As after sunset fadeth in the west,

→ Just like the light that fades in the west after the sun sets.

Explanation: The poet’s vitality is fading away gradually, just like daylight disappearing after sunset. It suggests the nearing end of life.

7. Which by and by black night doth take away,

→ And soon the dark night takes away all remaining light.

Explanation: The “black night” symbolizes death, which soon comes after life’s light is gone.

8. Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.

→ Night is like death itself, which brings rest and sleep to everyone.

Explanation: The poet compares night to death — both bring an end to activity and life. It reflects his acceptance of mortality.

9. In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire

→ You can see in me the dim, dying glow of a fire.

Explanation: The speaker’s life is like a dying fire — once bright, now only faintly burning. His energy is fading, but not yet gone.

10. That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,

→ The fire burns on the ashes of its former self.

Explanation: His present life rests upon the ashes of his youth — the past memories and experiences that now remain as ashes.

11. As the death-bed whereon it must expire,

→ The fire lies on its own death-bed, where it will soon go out.

Explanation: This line symbolizes how life itself contains the seeds of its own end. The body that once supported youth will eventually become its death-bed.

12. Consum’d with that which it was nourish’d by.

→ It is being consumed by the very thing that once gave it life.

Explanation: Just as fire is consumed by its fuel, human life is slowly destroyed by the same time and energy that once kept it alive.

13. This thou perceiv’st, which makes thy love more strong,

→ You see all this, and it makes your love even stronger.

Explanation: The beloved understands that the poet is aging and nearing death. This awareness makes her love deeper and more sincere.

14. To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

→ You love more deeply what you know you must soon lose.

Explanation: The poet concludes that love becomes stronger in the face of death. Knowing that life is short, we value love more intensely.

In Sonnet 73, Shakespeare reflects on old age and approaching death through three beautiful metaphors — autumn, twilight, and dying fire. Each image shows the gradual fading of life’s energy. In the end, he says that awareness of mortality strengthens true love, making it more precious and eternal.