Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;
But then begins a journey in my head
To work my mind, when body’s work’s expired:
For then my thoughts–from far where I abide–
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see:
Save that my soul’s imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.
Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.
Line 1: “Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Weary with toil – Exhausted from hard work.
- Haste me to my bed – Hurry to bed for rest.
Explanation & Context:
The speaker, tired from a long day of labor, eagerly seeks the comfort of sleep. This opening line establishes a contrast between physical exhaustion and the expectation of restful sleep. However, the poem will soon reveal that even in bed, his mind remains restless, continuing to work through thoughts of love.
Line 2: “The dear repose for limbs with travel tired;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Dear repose – Precious or much-needed rest.
- Limbs with travel tired – The body exhausted from movement or work.
Explanation & Context:
The poet considers sleep a “dear repose” because it provides relief from his physical exhaustion. The phrase “limbs with travel tired” suggests that he has been engaged in long or strenuous activity, emphasizing the contrast between bodily fatigue and mental unrest.
Line 3: “But then begins a journey in my head”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Journey in my head – Restless thoughts or mental travel.
Explanation & Context:
Just as his body seeks rest, his mind embarks on a new journey. This line introduces the poem’s central idea: while the body may find rest, the mind remains active, occupied with thoughts of love. The poet struggles with sleeplessness because of his longing for the beloved.
Line 4: “To work my mind, when body’s work’s expired:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Work my mind – Engage in deep thoughts, mental activity.
- Body’s work’s expired – When the body’s labor has ended for the day.
Explanation & Context:
The physical toil of the day may be over, but now his mind takes on a new kind of labor—thinking about his beloved. This contrast highlights the persistence of love and longing, which do not cease when the body rests.
Line 5: “For then my thoughts–from far where I abide–”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- From far where I abide – From the distant place where I stay.
Explanation & Context:
The poet suggests that he is physically far away from his beloved, but his thoughts travel across that distance. Love transcends physical space, allowing his mind to connect with the person he longs for.
Line 6: “Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Intend – Aim or plan.
- Zealous – Passionate, full of devotion.
- Pilgrimage – A spiritual or religious journey.
Explanation & Context:
The poet compares his thoughts of love to a pilgrimage—a journey of religious devotion. This suggests that his love is sacred and deeply meaningful. Even though his body is distant, his mind makes a spiritual journey toward the beloved, emphasizing love’s power to transcend physical boundaries.
Line 7: “And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Drooping eyelids – Heavy, tired eyes.
- Open wide – Unable to close, staying awake.
Explanation & Context:
Even though the poet’s body is tired, he cannot sleep because his mind is too busy thinking about his beloved. Love, in this sense, is both a source of inspiration and a cause of suffering, as it prevents him from getting the rest he desires.
Line 8: “Looking on darkness which the blind do see:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Looking on darkness – Staring into the night.
- Which the blind do see – The same darkness that blind people experience.
Explanation & Context:
Unable to sleep, the poet stares into the darkness of the night, similar to how a blind person experiences the world. This reinforces the theme of love as both illuminating and blinding—his eyes see nothing, but his mind is filled with visions of his beloved.
Line 9: “Save that my soul’s imaginary sight”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Save that – Except that.
- Soul’s imaginary sight – The vision created in his mind or soul.
Explanation & Context:
Even though the poet is surrounded by darkness, his “soul’s imaginary sight” allows him to see his beloved in his mind. This suggests that love provides its own light, allowing him to picture the one he longs for despite the physical absence.
Line 10: “Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Presents thy shadow – Shows an image of the beloved.
- Sightless view – A vision that is not seen with the eyes, but imagined.
Explanation & Context:
The poet sees his beloved not with his eyes, but with his mind. Even though the room is dark, his thoughts conjure an image of the beloved. This suggests that love is a force that can create beauty even in emptiness and darkness.
Line 11: “Which, like a jewel hung in ghastly night,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Jewel – A precious gemstone, symbolizing beauty.
- Ghastly night – The eerie, dark night.
Explanation & Context:
The image of the beloved is compared to a jewel shining in the night. This highlights how love brightens even the darkest moments, just as a gemstone adds beauty to an otherwise bleak setting.
Line 12: “Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Black night beauteous – The dark night becomes beautiful.
- Her old face new – Night appears fresh and different.
Explanation & Context:
The beloved’s image transforms the night, making it beautiful rather than bleak. This suggests that love has the power to change perception, making even darkness feel bright and new.
Line 13: “Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lo! thus – Look, this is what happens.
- By day my limbs, by night my mind – Physical exhaustion by day, mental exhaustion by night.
Explanation & Context:
The poet summarizes his struggle: his body is weary by day, and his mind is restless by night. This highlights how love consumes him completely, leaving no moment for true rest.
Line 14: “For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- No quiet find – No peace or rest.
Explanation & Context:
The poet ends by reinforcing the idea that love brings both joy and suffering. He finds no peace—neither in body nor in mind—because he is so deeply consumed by thoughts of his beloved.
Final Analysis:
Sonnet 27 explores the theme of love as both inspiration and torment. Key ideas include:
- Physical vs. Mental Exhaustion – The poet’s body is tired, but his mind is restless.
- Love as a Pilgrimage – His thoughts make a sacred journey to his beloved.
- Darkness & Light – The beloved’s image transforms the night, making it beautiful.
- Love’s Power Over Perception – Even in physical absence, love makes the poet see and feel the beloved’s presence.
This sonnet beautifully captures the restlessness of love, showing how deep affection can bring both longing and beauty, even in darkness.
Summary
In Sonnet 27, the speaker describes his physical exhaustion after a long day’s labor, seeking rest in bed. However, instead of finding sleep, his mind remains active, embarking on an emotional journey to his beloved.
Even in complete darkness, when his physical sight is useless, his mind’s eye conjures the image of his beloved. This vision illuminates the night, much like a jewel transforming the surrounding darkness into beauty. The poem concludes with a paradox: the speaker finds no rest either by day or night—his body is exhausted during the day, and his mind is restless with longing at night.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 27 explores the physical and emotional burdens of love, emphasizing how the speaker’s thoughts of his beloved prevent him from truly resting. This theme reflects the intensity of longing often found in Shakespeare’s sonnets.
The contrast between physical weariness and mental activity is a central tension in the poem. The speaker’s body is tired from travel and labor, yet his mind remains wide awake, restless, and consumed by love. This contrast mirrors the conflict between reason and passion, a recurring motif in Shakespeare’s works.
The imagery of night and blindness enhances the emotional depth of the poem. Although literal sight is useless in the dark, the speaker’s “soul’s imaginary sight” still perceives the image of his beloved. This suggests that true love transcends physical presence and is instead internalized and ever-present in the lover’s mind.
The final couplet underscores the inescapable nature of love, as the speaker finds no relief from longing—his body suffers during the day, and his heart and mind suffer at night. This reinforces the idea that love is both a source of beauty and torment.
Theme Analysis
1. Love as an All-Consuming Force
The speaker is unable to escape thoughts of his beloved, even when exhausted. This suggests that love is not just an emotional experience but a mental and physical burden.
2. The Contrast Between Physical and Mental States
The poem highlights the opposition between the body and the mind—while the body is fatigued, the mind is hyperactive. This reinforces the idea that love is more powerful than physical exhaustion.
3. The Power of Memory and Imagination in Love
Even in the darkness of night, when vision is impossible, the speaker’s mind conjures the image of his beloved. This emphasizes the idea that true love is not reliant on physical presence but rather on memory and emotional connection.
4. The Transformative Power of Love
The beloved is compared to a jewel in the night, making the darkness appear beautiful. This symbolizes how love can bring light to even the darkest moments and reshape the way one experiences the world.
Literary Devices
1. Contrast (Juxtaposition)
- “Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, / But then begins a journey in my head”
→ The contrast between physical exhaustion and mental wakefulness highlights the paradox of love’s restlessness. - “Looking on darkness which the blind do see”
→ The speaker sees nothing physically, yet he envisions his beloved internally, emphasizing the contrast between blindness and inner vision.
2. Imagery
- “Like a jewel hung in ghastly night”
→ The beloved’s image is compared to a precious gem illuminating the darkness, symbolizing love’s ability to bring beauty to even the darkest moments. - “Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new”
→ The personification of night as an old woman transformed by love reinforces the power of passion and imagination.
3. Personification
- “Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new”
→ Night is given human characteristics, suggesting that love has the power to renew and transform even time itself.
4. Metaphor
- “A zealous pilgrimage to thee”
→ The speaker’s thoughts are compared to a pilgrimage, implying that his love is spiritual and deeply devoted. - “My soul’s imaginary sight presents thy shadow”
→ The mind’s eye replaces physical sight, reinforcing the idea that true love transcends the limitations of the senses.
5. Paradox
- “Lo! thus, by day my limbs, by night my mind, / For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.”
→ The speaker’s body and mind are never at peace, illustrating the inescapable torment of love.
Conclusion
Sonnet 27 beautifully captures the exhausting and inescapable nature of love. Through powerful imagery of darkness, blindness, and vision, Shakespeare conveys how love occupies both the mind and soul, offering no escape even in sleep. The poem’s contrast between physical exhaustion and mental wakefulness reinforces the theme that love is an all-consuming force, bringing both suffering and beauty to the lover’s life.
