William Shakespeare, Sonnet 15

SONNET 15 PARAPHRASE
When I consider every thing that When I think that everything that
grows grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment, Has but a brief moment of perfection,
That this huge stage presenteth And that the world is merely a stage
nought but shows upon which
Whereon the stars in secret influence The stars, through their hidden
comment; influence, exert their illusions (ie.
'shows' - see above line);
When I perceive that men as plants When I observe that men grow as
increase, plants do,
Cheered and cheque'd even by the Encouraged and nourished by the sky
self-same sky, that holds the stars,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height And that they flaunt their youthful
decrease, vitality, and after reaching their prime
begin to decline,
And wear their brave state out of Until their youth has passed from
memory; memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant Then the thought of this short stay (on
stay earth)
Sets you most rich in youth before my Brings you in the prime of your youth
sight, vividly before my eyes,
Where wasteful Time debateth with Where the destroyer Time fights
Decay, against Decay,
To change your day of youth to sullied To change brightness of your youth to
night; the dark night of old age;
And all in war with Time for love of Because I love you I declare war
you, against Time, and
As he takes from you, I engraft you As he takes from you, I renew your life
new. (in my verse).