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 defence
Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
Line 1: “When I do count the clock that tells the time,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Count the clock – Observe the ticking of the clock, marking the passage of time
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare begins with an introspective moment, where he watches time passing as indicated by the ticking of a clock.
This sets a meditative tone, introducing the theme of time’s relentless march and its impact on all things, especially beauty and youth.
By focusing on counting time, the poet emphasizes the finite nature of human life.
Line 2: “And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Brave day – A bright, strong, and glorious day
- Sunk in hideous night – Disappearing into dark, terrifying night
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Shakespeare uses day and night as metaphors for youth and old age.
The brilliant, energetic day represents the prime of life, while night symbolizes death and decay.
The contrast between light and dark suggests that even the most glorious things are doomed to fade.
Line 3: “When I behold the violet past prime,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Behold – Look upon, observe
- Violet past prime – A flower that has withered after blooming
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The violet, known for its delicate beauty, represents youth and freshness.
However, just as the flower fades after blooming, so too does human youth and beauty decline with time.
This is a poignant reminder of mortality, reinforcing the theme that nothing lasts forever.
Line 4: “And sable curls, all silvered o’er with white;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sable – Black (referring to youthful dark hair)
- Silvered o’er with white – Turning gray or white with age
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This is a visual representation of aging—dark, youthful hair turning gray.
Shakespeare highlights the inevitability of growing old, further reinforcing the idea that time spares no one.
This also connects to the previous line, showing how both nature (the violet) and humans (hair turning gray) succumb to time.
Line 5: “When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Lofty trees – Tall, grand trees (symbolizing strength and vitality)
- Barren of leaves – Without leaves, stripped by autumn and winter
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Just as trees lose their leaves in winter, humans lose their youth and strength with age.
The imagery of barrenness suggests a loss of vitality, reinforcing the poem’s central theme of inevitable decline.
Line 6: “Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Erst – Previously, in the past
- Canopy the herd – Provided shade for animals
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This line recalls how strong trees once provided protection and comfort.
Just as trees once sheltered life but eventually lose their leaves, so too do humans lose their ability to protect and sustain as they age.
This further supports the idea of nature’s cycle—what was once strong will eventually weaken.
Line 7: “And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Summer’s green – The lush greenery of summer
- Girded up in sheaves – Tied up in bundles, harvested
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet references the harvesting of crops—a metaphor for how youthful beauty is eventually taken away.
Summer, which once flourished, is now collected and removed, just as youth fades into old age.
Line 8: “Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Borne on the bier – Carried on a funeral stretcher (symbolizing death)
- White and bristly beard – A sign of old age
In-depth Explanation & Context:
This further extends the metaphor of aging leading to death.
The “white and bristly beard” is an unmistakable symbol of old age, and the bier is an image of inevitable mortality.
The poet reinforces that youth is not just fading—it is being carried toward its grave.
Line 9: “Then of thy beauty do I question make,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy beauty – The beauty of the young man (the addressed subject)
- Question make – Doubt or consider deeply
In-depth Explanation & Context:
After witnessing time’s destructive power, the poet questions the young man’s beauty—how long will it last? What will happen to it?
This line serves as a transition, moving from natural imagery back to addressing the subject directly.
Line 10: “That thou among the wastes of time must go,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Wastes of time – The ruins left behind by time, referring to death and decay
- Must go – Must eventually join in death
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The poet confronts the harsh reality—the young man’s beauty will also fade and become part of time’s destruction.
This reinforces Shakespeare’s central theme: beauty is fleeting, and time spares no one.
Line 11: “Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sweets and beauties – Things that are lovely and pleasant
- Do themselves forsake – Naturally abandon themselves, fade away
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Even the most beautiful things in life—flowers, youth, love—eventually fade by their own nature.
This line suggests that beauty’s downfall is inevitable and that nothing stays perfect forever.
Line 12: “And die as fast as they see others grow;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Die as fast – Perish quickly
- See others grow – While new beauty is emerging
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The cycle of life continues—as one generation fades, another rises.
This reflects Shakespeare’s view of time as a cycle—things must decay to make way for the new.
Line 13: “And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defence”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Time’s scythe – A metaphor for death (like the Grim Reaper’s tool)
- Make defence – Protect oneself against
In-depth Explanation & Context:
Here, Time is personified as a reaper, cutting down all things with his scythe.
Nothing—not beauty, not strength, not even love—can defend against time’s power.
Line 14: “Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Save breed – Except for procreation (having children)
- Brave him – Defy time’s power
- Takes thee hence – Removes you from the world (death)
In-depth Explanation & Context:
The only way to defy time and death is by having children, ensuring one’s legacy lives on.
This is the poem’s ultimate message:
- Beauty fades
- Time destroys
- The only immortality is through future generations
Final Thoughts on Sonnet 12:
This sonnet reinforces the central theme of Shakespeare’s early sonnets—the fleeting nature of beauty and the necessity of procreation.
By using natural imagery (day turning to night, trees losing leaves, harvested crops, aging hair), he builds a powerful meditation on time’s unstoppable force.
The conclusion is clear—only by having children can one “brave” time’s destruction.
Summary
In Sonnet 12, Shakespeare meditates on the passage of time and its inevitable effects on beauty and life. The speaker reflects on various natural images that symbolize aging and decay:
- The ticking clock represents time’s relentless march.
- The setting sun symbolizes the transition from youth to old age.
- Withering violets and graying hair highlight physical decline.
- Barren trees and harvested crops signify the end of life’s cycle.
As the speaker observes these transformations, he realizes that beauty and youth cannot escape time’s destruction. He concludes that the only way to defy time is through procreation—passing one’s essence to the next generation.
Critical Analysis
1. The Inevitable March of Time
- The poem is deeply melancholic, acknowledging that all living things must wither and fade.
- The clock, setting sun, withered flowers, and harvested crops all reinforce the idea that nothing lasts forever.
- Shakespeare presents time as a force that spares no one.
This aligns with the Renaissance obsession with mortality and the fleeting nature of earthly beauty.
2. Procreation as the Only Defense Against Time
- The final couplet offers one solution to time’s destruction: having children.
- This echoes earlier sonnets, where Shakespeare urges the young man to ensure his beauty lives on.
- The metaphor of “breeding” as a defense against time’s scythe suggests that life continues through offspring.
The idea that children grant a form of immortality was a common belief in Shakespeare’s era.
3. The Cyclical Nature of Life
- The seasons mirror the human life cycle:
- Summer (youth) is full of life but inevitably fades into
- Winter (old age and death).
- This natural cycle serves as a warning: if the young man does not pass on his legacy, he will disappear without a trace.
This reflects Renaissance humanist thinking, which saw nature as a model for human life.
Themes
1. The Passage of Time and Mortality
- The clock ticking, nightfall, graying hair, and barren trees all symbolize the inevitable decay of youth.
- Shakespeare presents time as an unstoppable force that destroys all beauty.
2. The Transience of Beauty
- Even the most beautiful things—flowers, hair, trees, summer—are temporary.
- The young man’s beauty will fade just like the natural elements around him.
3. Procreation as Immortality
- The only way to “defy” time is through having children.
- Offspring carry on a part of their parent, preserving beauty and legacy.
4. The Natural Cycle of Life
- The poem compares human life to nature, showing how all things follow the same pattern of birth, growth, decline, and death.
- This reflects humanist and philosophical ideas about the order of the universe.
Literary Devices
1. Imagery – Vivid Depictions of Time’s Effects
- “The brave day sunk in hideous night” → The transition from youth to old age.
- “Sable curls, all silvered o’er with white” → Black hair turning gray with age.
- “Barren trees” and “summer’s green all girded up in sheaves” → The loss of youth and vitality.
2. Metaphor – Harvest and Time’s Scythe
- “Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard” → The harvested crops symbolize death, as do old men with white beards.
- “Time’s scythe” → A metaphor for death, likening time to the Grim Reaper’s weapon.
3. Personification – Time as a Destroyer
- Time is given agency, actively bringing decay and death.
- “Nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defence” → Time is portrayed as an unstoppable force.
4. Alliteration – Emphasizing the Sound of Time
- “See the brave day sunk in hideous night” → The “s” sounds mimic the slow, fading transition from day to night.
- “Sable curls, all silvered o’er with white” → The contrast between youth and age is highlighted by the repetition.
5. Symbolism – The Clock and Seasons
- The clock symbolizes the constant passage of time.
- The seasons mirror human life, with summer representing youth and winter symbolizing old age.
Conclusion
Sonnet 12 is one of Shakespeare’s most powerful reflections on the inevitability of time and mortality. It presents a bleak reality: beauty fades, youth disappears, and nothing can stop the effects of time.
However, Shakespeare also offers a hopeful solution—procreation is the only way to fight time’s destruction. By leaving behind children, the young man can defy time’s scythe and ensure a part of himself continues to live.
This poem is a turning point in the procreation sonnets, shifting from simply praising beauty to emphasizing the urgent necessity of leaving a legacy before it’s too late.
