Reflection on Sonnet Twelve

This sonnet has a definite rhythm, whether read out loud or internalized through the reader. The constant pattern is almost like the incessant tide pulling in and drawing back out to sea, a smooth and fluid movement that has a definite beat. This is extremely evident in the opening line:

"When I do count the clock that tells the time,"

A large portion of this sonnet reflects on how the seasons relate to periods of one's life. Shakespeare establishes spring as children, summer as youth, autumn as middle age, and winter as old age. The seasons obviously correlate with life in these stages, because it is comparing human life to the life cycle of plants. It is this way in which Shakespeare tries to convince the listener (who we believe to be the young man, Mr. W.H.,) to enjoy the seasons of his life, but not in ways which make his life for naught. All of the sonnets aforementioned also had to deal with advocating continuing the family lineage, but I feel that it is these comparisons to the seasons that have been most effective. Both the aging of humans and the cycles of plant life are apparent and visible, which makes the sonnet so much more powerful.