William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet XII
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.
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