Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare.

¶ … Sonnet 73 by William Shakespeare. Specifically it will discuss what the poem means, especially how it symbolizes death. This dark poem symbolizes fall, winter, death, and the last part of a life. The narrator is looking back on his life and reflecting on it, and the poem is like his journal looking back into the things he did wrong, or should have accomplished.

That time of year thou mayst in me behold When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. The first four lines represent the time of the year the poem takes place, which is fall, because the author references the "yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang" which symbolizes fall and the end of the season heading into winter.

The poem also talks about the cold, and the "ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang" which means it is cold and the birds have all flown south for the winter, which is another reference to the time of year the author is writing about. These first four lines set the time for the poem, but they also set the tone, because they are not cheerful or hopeful, but "cold" and "ruin'd" like the weather.

In addition, it is clear that this is not a happy poem, but one set in winter, which is the last season of the year, which symbolizes the last years of a person's life. In me thou seest the twilight of such day As after sunset fadeth in the west, Which by and by black night doth take away, Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.

These second four lines represent the ending of the day, referencing the "twilight" and the "sunset fadeth" and that night is taking away "Death's second self," that means the person that the angel of death has come to claim. This part of the poem represents the end of life, and the fading of light into blackness that is death, and how death sends an angel to collect his victims and take them to Heaven or Hell.

The person is talking to another person, and is seems they both realize that the narrator is going to die soon, and that the narrator is not afraid or depressed by what is about to happen. In fact, it is as if he is trying to reassure the other person and let them know that it is all right, and they will be fine after the narrator is gone.

This is a kind way to prepare another person for the death of a loved one, and it seems the narrator is kind but realistic, and not afraid to face death. In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire That on the ashes of his youth doth lie, As the death-bed whereon it must expire Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by.

Here, in these four lines, the narrator is talking about his youth, and the "ashes" of his youth which are all gone or "burned up," and now, all that is left is dying. The narrator is on his "death-bed" and recognizes that his youth was good and he lived a good life.

The "glowing of such fire" seems like it would relate to Hell, but really it refers to the fire and passion of youth, that burns out as people grow older, and is extinguished entirely by the time a person has lived a long life and is ready to die. He recognizes he "must expire," and that his life will be consumed by the joys and youth that nourished it when he was younger.

Again, the narrator seems to be reassuring the other person, and telling them that he lived a long and good life, he enjoyed the passions of youth, and that he is now ready to die, and that death is inevitable.

This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, To love that well which thou must leave ere long These final two lines are probably the most important in the sonnet, because they are telling the person the narrator is talking to that the narrator knows they love him, and that makes their love all the more important or "strong." He also recognizes that this person also understands what he has been trying to say, that he has lived a long, good life, and that he has been loved, and so now, it is time to leave.

This understanding, "This thou perceivest," also makes their love stronger and more true, so the narrator is acknowledging how important this love has been throughout his life, and how much it means to him. In addition, he acknowledges that he will die soon, but that he has "loved.