Sonnets xvi

By William Shakespeare

1564-1616

WHEN in the chronicle of wasted time
I see descriptions of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rime
In praise of Ladies dead and lovely Knights;
Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best,
Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,
I see their antique pen would have exprest
Even such a beauty as you master now.
So all their praises are but prophecies
Of this our time, all you prefiguring;
And for they look'd but with divining eyes,
They had not skill enough your worth to sing:
         For we, which now behold these present days,
         Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.

DayPoems Poem No. 161
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/161.html">Sonnets xvi by William Shakespeare</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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